# @laganjaestranja on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZAz9qWNgxq
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66227704-laganjaestranja-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e02641bd82.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-31T19:03:08.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Jay Jackson (@laganjaestranja) — https://gondola.cc/laganjaestranja

## Caption

A quién le importa? (To whom does it matter) ME!! Ockkkkuurrrrr!! 
Last night was so special 👏🏼🙏🏼 I had the honor of celebrating Norma Jean’s owner Ernie Sanchez’s 70th birthday and his 38th year of business. francosnightclub is a long-standing queer bar in Castroville, California, known as Monterey County’s ONLY gay bar and famous for its Saturday night drag shows and lively atmosphere. To think about the bravery it took in 1989 for Ernie to open this bar in The Artichoke Capital of the World is astounding!! 🚜🤠 When I found out about the party and knew we would be in the area, I felt in my heart we must go and support him and his queens Romie, Melanie, Omar, and Brisseidy—some of whom have been working there for 20+ years. Open only one night a week, this club is decked in Marlyn Monroe decor and features large portraits of its performers, many of whom are trans themselves. The energy in the room was palpable, so unlike many clubs I frequent these days. And that’s because of its history, location, and loyal patrons which included many tías, rancheros, vaqueros, maricóns, mujer trans, and everything in between. How quickly our youth has forgotten Trail Blazers like Ernie who fought for us at a time when being any letter of the LGBTQIA+ community was more than just frowned upon, it was criminal. I honestly can’t imagine what challenges he must have overcome to provide this safe space for our community in a county that needs and deserves this. This wasn’t simply a birthday party but rather a community gathering of like minded people celebrating each other’s differences in an authentic way. One of my many dreams would be to direct a documentary about this legendary night club but for now I wanted to share this slice of HERSTORY with you #BUDS 💚💨 Support small town gay bars so that future generations can grow from this hard won cultural cultivation 💪🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 8,773
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- **Comments:** 208

## Tags

buds

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