Writing.- The LGBT Pride march returned to Mexico City with more force than ever after the covid-19 pandemic, but in the midst of an increase in hate crimes, criticism against the corporatization of the event and the presidential campaigns of 2024.
Thousands of people gathered this year at the event that began at the Ángel de la Independencia and ended in the capital’s Zócalo, and which this year had the motto “Freedom, justice and dignity! They will never erase us!” , which was also surrounded by controversy although at the same time marked by diversity, activity and multicolor.
One of the conflicts was over the protagonism of those people who are designated as leaders and spokespersons of the LGBT movement who appear before the media in show programs and who do not represent the community.
In addition to the presence of allegorical cars, since they assure that they are only used to promote brands and the companies are not committed to the movement or the causes of the march.
“There are many brands, many companies that are nothing more than pride month (in which they support). They are the ones that are represented, according to (in the floats) but after the march passes they forget about the LGBT community”, lamented Richard, one of those present at the brand.
Dressed in a yellow suit and heels inspired by his idol, the singer Lady Gaga, Richard regretted that this type of march is also used by politicians, since in Mexico the 2024 presidential campaigns are about to begin.
«They always do the same, that is, when it is the LGBT movement they “hang” (take advantage) of the community, they try to see what they support, but once they win they forget, they just use the community as advertising or marketing, but then it was there,” he emphasized.
The start of the mobilization, which was officially given at noon, began very early as many participants congregated at the Angel of Independence and in a matter of hours they became thousands who began to walk the central avenue Paseo de la Reforma with the objective of to arrive at the center of the capital where a concert and various cultural activities were scheduled.
The authorities expected some 600,000 participants this year, almost double the expectation of last year, and in light of this they deployed an operation of 2,300 agents, 90 official vehicles, 22 patrol cars and five tow trucks.
The march that took place in the Mexican capital took place within the framework of International LGBT Pride Day, which is commemorated worldwide on June 28 and takes place in a climate in which, according to Edith Olivares, executive director of Amnesty International Mexico, many advances have been made, but many unresolved problems also remain.
“It must be said that we have pending, especially in health issues, there is a major problem in the country with the shortage of medicines, especially for people living with HIV,” he explained.
In addition, he said, there are many challenges for people of sexual diversity who live with a disability, people of color, those who live on the outskirts of large cities, but also in terms of discrimination and violence.
