An exciting part of living in Central Mexico is rediscovering a culture of acceptance when it comes to LGBTQ persons. This is the case especially among people one considers family and friends. We don’t pretend to understand every nuance here, but we both feel safe in Central Mexico as queers.  We think you will too.

Legal Aspects

Although legal rights in Mexico favor LGBTQ people, cultural norms can differ from place to place. One must be aware and use common sense. Homosexuality was decriminalized in Mexico in 1871. That is 132 years before decriminalization in the United States. In 2010, same-sex marriage was legalized in all states but one (which recognizes same-sex marriages established in rest of country). Transgender persons can change their legal gender in Mexico City and two states, Michoacán and Nayarit, regardless of reassignment surgery.

(Photo: Pride March – San Miguel De Allende)

Social Aspects

As is the case the world over, anywhere you have religious following, homophobia, misogyny, and otherwise colonized mentalities will also exist. Mexico is no exception. Catholicism still has a cultural stronghold throughout the country. Many LGBTQ Mexicans co-exist as practicing Catholics and typically keep their homosexuality to themselves and only discreetly share it w/ close circles of trusted friends.

Not surprisingly, an openness toward homosexuality and non-binary gender identity is more common among the indigenous populations in Mexico. A vivid example of this is the contemporary existence of the Muxe, a non-binary gender, among the Zapotec people of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico.

(Photo: Pride March in Leon)

In the state of Guanajuato, the general climate toward LGBTQ persons is luke warm. More specifically, we feel completely safe and have not encountered any ill or different treatment because of whom we are. And we don’t expect to. At the same time there seems to be a general non-acknowledgement about whom we are as queers. With the exception of a few LGBTQ social service organizations mostly focused on providing resources for LGBTQ Youth and the official state campaigns about equality and non-descrimination toward the LGBTQ community, there is a palpable invisibility.

(Photo: Pride March in Queretaro)