Rigoberto Gonzalez
This is a memoir, and therefore we learn a lot about Rigoberto's life and thoughts. We learn he was brought up as a Catholic, which meant he had difficulty coming to terms with his sexuality. He says that this collection commemorates his "passion and pain," but also says "there is no martyr here - nor even a saint- only the honest illustration of human experience and thought." The novel is split into three sections, with the first providing a series of self-portraits. It is here we learn about Rigoberto's character, motivations, and thoughts.
Rigoberto's mother
Rigoberto introduces his mother, who brought him up in Mexico. They lived in a three-bedroom apartment, alongside "four branches" of the family. When Rigoberto is in his thirties, his mother sadly dies, which has a profound effect upon him due to their closeness. His mother is also shown to inspire his writing and essays in this text.
Anne Frank
In the introduction to the text, Rigoberto cites Anne Frank as an inspiration for him writing a memoir. He says that an older friend told him he was too young to write a memoir, but he thought of Anne Frank and was inspired to write despite his young age: "I am no Anne Frank, but that young woman's creative impulse gave me courage. I too had a vision of the world I wanted to commit to the page and, eventually, share."
