Mérida, Yucatán — The XVI March for Sexual Diversity in Yucatán, which parallels LGBTQ pride celebrations around the world, will deliver a firm political message, said its coordinator, Alfredo Morales Candiani.
The annual gathering begins Saturday, June 16 at Parque La Mejorada. It’s a time of floats, banners, costumes and colorful drag.
It’s also a time for widely marginalized and maligned groups and their allies to assert themselves. This year, 24 civil organizations will participate.
“The gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and lesbian community is already a political force, since it is estimated that some 130,000 people in Yucatan are part of the community,” said the president of the A.C. Derechos, Cultura y Diversidad Sexual (DCyDS).
He explained that the march will start at 5 p.m. at La Mejorada and wind its way to the Plaza Grande via Calle 50, to Calle 65 and then up 60.
Although Mexico is at the height of election season, the coordinator added that, by agreement of the convening organizations, no manifestation of political parties will be allowed. Candidates for office are not to participate in the event.
After the march, participants will issue their own statements, reflecting their long-standing demand for equal rights.
They are also expected to hail the progress made in the dialogue with the two candidates for the governorship who have responded to the call of the LGBTTI community.
Morales Candiani said that this year the number of participants is expected to grow, as more and more people, families and civil society groups march in solidarity to the demands of the community. (Read about a previous march here.)
So far, Morales Candiani said, the gubernatorial candidates have only made vague promises, but none have specified positions or offered specific responses and solid commitments to support equal rights.
“According to data from national organizations, in Yucatán more than 130,000 people are part of the community. Hundreds of them can not participate (in the march) or do not have the conviction to go out and demonstrate for very different reasons. We are 9 percent of the electoral roll, a force that must be heard,” he said.
“We have to respond to the demand for freedoms and guarantees granted by the constitution and that are not met,” said Morales Candiani.
“It is clear that there are two candidates with the highest scores and that it is important that these candidates listen and understand that the agenda of the rights of the LGBTI people will continue, even when changes occur in the federal government,” he said.
After two decades of little governmental response the community must raise awareness and be more politically engaged, he said.
Equal marriage and adoption rights, public health campaigns and the rights of trans people to change their names on official documents are among the issues advocated by the groups.
Source: Reporteros Hoy
