Mariposa: My Love Letter to Nana

A letter from grandson to grandmother recounts how her unconditional love and acceptance of his gay identity has lifted him up at every stage of his life.

Querida Nana,
When I was born, squishy as a tiny caterpillar, you were there to hold me. You whispered, “Qué orgullosa estoy.”
And from that moment, I could feel your pride.

This is the beginning of Mateo’s letter to his beloved grandmother, and the beginning of a love that never wavers. When bullies shame Mateo with jeers of “Mariposa!”— the Spanish word for “butterfly” but also a homophobic put-down—Nana teaches him to hold his head high. The bond they share is a chrysalis, sheltering him as he grows the wings his Nana has always seen.

Mariposa is a tribute to author Michael Genhart’s own grandmother and a testament to the immeasurable difference one supportive adult can make in a child’s life. Brought to life in lively, magnetic color by illustrator Carlos Aponte, Genhart’s story is a shout of queer joy, reminding us that a loving voice can ring out over a roar of hateful noise; that even in fearful times, we are never alone.