Retablos
As well as offering personal essays, this text also explores academia, literature, and criticism related to the LGBTQ+ experience. These different texts are related together by Rigoberto under the term "retablos." He explains in the introduction that retablos are "ornamental structures made of carved wood framing an oil painting of a devotional image, usually a patron saint."
In this text, retablos functions in a literary sense, symbolizing the literary inspirations that led Rigoberto to a life of writing. He therefore uses this cultural symbol for his own means, including the LGBTQ+ experience in this tradition.
Red Ink
Significantly, Rigoberto connects the symbol of retablos to the idea of suffering, by calling the text "red-inked retablos." Here he uses the visual similarity of red ink to blood, in order to symbolize his passion in writing this text. This symbol marks his suffering as a gay man, representing the marginalized experience.
Mariposas
Mariposes (or butterflies) are a key symbol in this text. Rigoberto is clearly fond of the creatures, seeing them as a symbol of beauty and identity. Mariposa is a nickname for gay men in Mexico but is often used in a derogative sense. Here, Rigoberto subverts the common use of this term, exploring the beauty and perseverance of the mariposa. Specifically, he comments on the mariposa's recollection and its ability in transforming and having a second chance.
