Alternative Spring Break to Mexico City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Social Justice Movements

Theme This trip focused on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Movement in Mexico. LGBT movements began to emerge in Mexico in the 1970’s. Since that time, there has been much struggle and progress. Recent laws have been enacted, including a national anti-discrimination law and a law for domestic partnership in Mexico City. Also, there is current national legislation under consideration on transgender rights. We worked to expand connections and build transnational relationships between the LGBT movements in Mexico and the U.S. We believe that this solidarity can help to create a more global LGBT human rights movement.

This trip focused on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Movement in Mexico.

LGBT movements began to emerge in Mexico in the 1970’s. Since that time, there has been much struggle and progress.

Recent laws have been enacted, including a national anti-discrimination law and a law for domestic partnership in Mexico City.

Also, there is current national legislation under consideration on transgender rights.

We worked to expand connections and build transnational relationships between the LGBT movements in Mexico and the U.S.

We believe that this solidarity can help to create a more global LGBT human rights movement.

BGay-BProud Café Zona Rosa Teotihuacán (ancient indigenous ruins) Frida Khalo house and museum “ La Pasion” by Tito (queer drag cabaret performance of the Passion of Christ) QueerNavaca (Cuernavaca, Mexico) Queer City Tour Zocalo Plaza Coyoacan Tour of Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana Transgender, Transsexual and Transvestite Community Forum Activities…

BGay-BProud Café

Zona Rosa

Teotihuacán (ancient indigenous ruins)

Frida Khalo house and museum

“ La Pasion” by Tito (queer drag cabaret performance of the Passion of Christ)

QueerNavaca (Cuernavaca, Mexico)

Queer City Tour

Zocalo Plaza

Coyoacan

Tour of Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana

Transgender, Transsexual and Transvestite Community Forum

Zocalo Plaza Teotihuacán Frida Khalo house and museum Zona Rosa

Cetlalic Tito’s Cabaret Our Hostel: Casa Vieja Zona Rosa

Dr. Lars Borge & Agustin Villalpando- Enkidu Magazine Directors/Editors, activists, academics, translator Hazel Gloria Davenport- CENSIDA, Director of Civil Society Organizations, Department of HIV/AIDS Patria Jimenez- First out queer politician in Latin America and Feminist activist for over 30 years Tito Vasconcelos- Actor, drag queen, club owner, director and LGBT activist Manuel Amador- LGBTTT activist, sociologist, poet and out queer political candidate Juan Carlos Cuellar- LGBT activist, playwright, actor and director Antonio Medina & Jorge Cerpa- 1 st gay couple to obtain a legalized same-sex civil union Members of CD4- AIDS education and activist organization in Cuernavaca Leaders of Gay Pride Mexico City 2008 Jorge Torres- Director, Cetlalic Progressive Language School in Cuernavaca, Mexico Amazing People We Met…

Dr. Lars Borge & Agustin Villalpando- Enkidu Magazine Directors/Editors, activists, academics, translator

Hazel Gloria Davenport- CENSIDA, Director of Civil Society Organizations, Department of HIV/AIDS

Patria Jimenez- First out queer politician in Latin America and Feminist activist for over 30 years

Tito Vasconcelos- Actor, drag queen, club owner, director and LGBT activist

Manuel Amador- LGBTTT activist, sociologist, poet and out queer political candidate

Juan Carlos Cuellar- LGBT activist, playwright, actor and director

Antonio Medina & Jorge Cerpa- 1 st gay couple to obtain a legalized same-sex civil union

Members of CD4- AIDS education and activist organization in Cuernavaca

Leaders of Gay Pride Mexico City 2008

Jorge Torres- Director, Cetlalic Progressive Language School in Cuernavaca, Mexico

Juan Carlos Cuellar, Agustin Villalpando, & Manuel Amador Tito Vasconcelos Patria Jimenez Hazel Gloria Davenport Agustin Villalpando, Emily Willard, & Dr. Lars Borge Jorge Torres

Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana Zona Rosa Teotihuacán Mexican Financial District Aimee with “Frida”

Some Things We Learned… Many members of the LGBT movement in Mexico City use the term “ sexual diversity ” instead of the acronyms like GLBTQ, etc. to describe their community and movement. Terms like Gay, Queer, Lesbian, and Trans, when used to describe identity, are not universal and can mean different things in different cultures. There is no term for “ally” in Mexican culture. Businesses in Zona Rosa, known as the gay district in Mexico City, are systematically being closed down. There has been increased police brutality and harassment against the LGBT community in Zona Rosa since this past June.

Many members of the LGBT movement in Mexico City use the term “ sexual diversity ” instead of the acronyms like GLBTQ, etc. to describe their community and movement.

Terms like Gay, Queer, Lesbian, and Trans, when used to describe identity, are not universal and can mean different things in different cultures.

There is no term for “ally” in Mexican culture.

Businesses in Zona Rosa, known as the gay district in Mexico City, are systematically being closed down.

There has been increased police brutality and harassment against the LGBT community in Zona Rosa since this past June.

Teotihuacán Zona Rosa TTT Community Forum Cetlalic Teotihuacán Frida Khalo Museum

Insurgentes Square Condom Mania Zona Rosa

Learning Moments Some of the national laws are more progressive than in the US, however the actual enforcement of the laws is proving difficult. We were not studying one community, but a series of communities that have a shared identity of sexual and gender diversity. There are no “queer studies” programs in Mexico. Some More Things We Learned…

Some of the national laws are more progressive than in the US, however the actual enforcement of the laws is proving difficult.

We were not studying one community, but a series of communities that have a shared identity of sexual and gender diversity.

There are no “queer studies” programs in Mexico.

Teotihuacán Teotihuacán Queer Studies Symposium Student Massacre Memorial Meeting Patria Jimenez

Gay men have a stronger presence in the community. Lesbians have a stronger background in the activist work that maintains the community. Lesbian groups were the most politically active but were the least represented in the party areas like Zona Rosa. There seems to be very little cooperation between men and women-gender is still very significant and serves to divide the sexual diversity movement. Learning Moments And Some More Things We Learned…

Gay men have a stronger presence in the community. Lesbians have a stronger background in the activist work that maintains the community.

Lesbian groups were the most politically active but were the least represented in the party areas like Zona Rosa.

There seems to be very little cooperation between men and women-gender is still very significant and serves to divide the sexual diversity movement.

Teotihuacán Urban Ruins Cetlatic One of the most amazing meals we’ve ever had…

El Fin….. From left to right: Jennifer Burke, Nick Sakruai, Rachel Miller, Liz O’Malley, Tim Moore, Kayly Ober, Emily Willard, Travis Ballie, Sara Bendoraitis and Aimee Francois