LGBT Migrants from Latin America Face Abuse, Discrimination in Mexico Michael K. Lavers - Washington Blade
go to original November 1, 2014

Migrantes LGBT, a group that advocates for LGBT migrants in Mexico, works out of the Casa Espacio de los Refugiados in Mexico City’s Ramón López Velarde Park. (Washington Blade/Michael K. Lavers)

Mexican law bans anti-gay discrimination, but the country’s immigration statutes do not include LGBT-specific protections.

Mexico City law bans discrimination based on national origin and sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Migrants and asylum seekers are among the marginalized groups with whom the Mexico City Council to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination, which enforces the Mexican capital’s sweeping anti-discrimination law, works.

“If the migrants know that they have been discriminated against because of their preference or sexual orientation they can come here and bring a complaint to the council,” Jacqueline L’Hoist Tapia, president of the Mexico City Council to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination, told the Blade during an interview at her office in Mexico City’s Popotla neighborhood.

Campos said the Mexican government, LGBT and human rights advocates and other groups are simply ill-equipped to work with LGBT migrants in spite of the aforementioned efforts.

...The organization that operates out of the Casa Espacio de los Refugiados (Space for Refugees) in Mexico City’s Ramón López Velarde Park provides LGBT migrants with clothing, food, shoes and other basic needs. Migrantes LGBT also conducts protests, organizes cultural activities and other events to highlight the needs of those who are escaping persecution in their home countries based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression.

Read the whole story at Washington Blade

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