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Sudburian Heath Salazar is ‘Sort Of’ a star

The non-binary performer is now a part of the show Sort Of, now streaming, and said they are thrilled to be a part of a show that isn’t ‘always sad’ for those who are 2SLGBTQ+

Before actor, activist and Sudburian, Heath Salazar (they/them) found their way to the show Sort Of, before they even thought to become an actor, they had a goal.

“At 11, I was going to be a showgirl and Prime Minister of Canada,” they said with a laugh. “I thought, no big deal, I’ll just commute back and forth from Broadway to Ottawa.”

Salazar told Sudbury.com their mother would face eternal frustration as their small child demanded to wait up to watch the 10 p.m. news. “I had all the politicians' names memorized,” they said.

Originally from New Sudbury, Salazar is a Latinx performer and writer. Named a ‘prolific trans artist’ by CBC Arts, their work has been covered internationally by media outlets including OUTtv and VICE, among others. 

Throughout their career, they’ve focused on projects that centre intersectional forms of queer and trans representation. In the drag world, Heath is known as ‘Gay Jesus’ and is best known for their multidisciplinary protest pieces and is featured on Season 1 of CBC Arts’ Canada’s A Drag. 

In 2019, they were honored by the Inspire Awards with a nomination for LGBTQ Person of the Year.  

In 2022, Salazar joined the cast of Sort Of, a CBC show now available in the United States as well, on HBO Max for its second season. 

The show tells the story of Sabi Mehboob (played by show co-creator, Bilal Baig). Main character Mehboob is gender-fluid and is defining their identities, as a millennial, as the youngest child in a Pakistani family, as well as de facto parent to their own family of downtown Toronto hipsters. 

Salazar now lives in Toronto and joined the cast as Arrow in the second season. 

Salazar told Sudbury.com that as a non-binary person of colour (their family is from Colombia), the show is a draw for its intersectionality — its ability to include the struggles that are compounded when you live in the margins of society; when you are non-binary and of colour, among other labels. 

But at the same time, it is also a chance to explore the aspects of a non-binary life that media does not always portray, always focused on stories of violence or hate against the 2SLGBTQ+ community without noting the beauty that comes from living your true self. 

“One of the really wonderful things about it is that it's parts of our lives that haven't been depicted,” Salazar said. “Even as a racialized queer person, not every day is sad!”

Salazar recalls the first time they had a conversation with their parents about worry, about their perceived need to protect their child. 

“When my loved ones were trying to adjust to my transition, their fear was often based around worry for safety, worry for happiness … worry for protection,” Salazar said. “And I remember the first time I had I said to my dad, ‘you know, a lot of people are just like having a really nice time’.” 

Salazar adds that, of course, there is a measure of privilege in that. If they had come out in another family, or still in the part of the world their family comes from, that might not be the case. 

“I'm very aware that my life would have been very different; I know that in Canada, I have a lot of privileges,” said Salazar.  “But I think also the moments we share of happiness as queer people as often missed in media, I think people need to know you can be queer, and you can be trans and have like a beautiful, wonderful life. You can have people around you that adore you. And you can have people that celebrate you, because it's important. And it also helps to make the difficult moments more bearable.”

Season two of Sort Of begins is now streaming on CBC Gem.

Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com. She covers the diverse communities of Sudbury, especially the vulnerable or marginalized, including the Black, Indigenous, newcomer and Francophone communities, as well as 2SLGBTQ+ and issues of the downtown core.


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Jenny Lamothe

About the Author: Jenny Lamothe

Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com. She covers the diverse communities of Sudbury, especially the vulnerable or marginalized.
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