Ovarian Psycos

In this excerpt from Independent Lens documentary Ovarian Psycos, Xela, Andi Xoch, "Joss the Boss," and other East Los Angeles cyclists talk about how empowering it is to ride as part of a group of women of color, to claim a safe space in otherwise dangerous areas. One of the most important parts of these rides is the dialogue the women have together, to educate and support each other.

In this excerpt from Independent Lens documentary Ovarian Psycos, the nine core members of the East Los Angeles-based Ovas bicycling brigade meet to debate the best ways to bring in new members. This includes founding member Xela having to let go, to delegate and trust her team as they learn how to be confident recruiters.

In this excerpt from Independent Lens documentary Ovarian Psycos, Xela de la X, founder of the Ovas bicycling brigade, returns to her childhood home in L.A. Xela was the only girl in a home full of boys in what she deemed a "post-colonized traditional Mexican home" where, her brother points out, she was beaten and often not allowed out of her room while her brothers played outside.

In this excerpt from Independent Lens documentary Ovarian Psycos, Andi Xoch, one of the members of the Ovas bike brigade, talks about growing up as the child of Mexican immigrants in East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights, where Mexican culture was everywhere. This was the birthplace of the Chicano civil rights movement, in which women were respected core community organizers.