The wave of support for Laura Mendoza, the Lecherita del Carnaval, after announcing that she has stopped being Francisco to become Laura, has been enormous, both inside and outside the world of Carnival.
This endearing character gave DIARIO DE AVISOS an interview in which she told how, after retiring early, she decided to take the step of showing herself as she always felt, a woman.
Yesterday, she confessed to feeling overwhelmed by all the calls and messages of support she had received. “She has been crazy, people have stopped me on the street to congratulate me,” she said excitedly. “Everyone has cheered me on and asked me to be happy, and of course I’m going to be happy,” she added.
Among those supports is that of the Association of Carnival Characters, where its president, who is the person behind Harpo Marx, expressed, on behalf of all his colleagues, support for Laura’s decision to take the step of be displayed as seen. “She always felt like a woman and she has decided to take the step. That is why we are not going to reject it, neither I, nor the rest of the members of the association”, she affirmed.
Harpo says that they have been in contact with Laura since she decided three years ago to take the step of showing herself as a woman. “She asked us from the first moment to call her Laura and that is what we have done, respect her decision, and give her our support.”
He admits that La Lecherita’s announcement that he is likely to leave Carnival would be “a great loss for the party, because he is a much-loved character,” but he also understands that his health is the most important thing.
