Gay pride month celebrated at two vastly different venues
In Mexico, “gay” has long been part of the vernacular, along with “feedback” and hundreds of other anglicisms. But for some reason “queer” hasn’t quite yet crossed the border. Establishments may fly rainbow flags and proclaim their support for LGBTQ rights but when I asked, most people weren’t sure about the “queer” part of the acronym. We saw a sign reading “LGBTTTIQA”, an alphabet soup that would require a doctorate in “wokeness”—except most Mexicans would not know what that meant either.
Language nuances aside, support for gay rights was the toast of the town during our visit to Mexico City last weekend to attend the annual gay pride parade, a raucous affair that brings hundreds of thousands from all over the country to the heart of this mammoth metropolis. This was our fourth Mexico City pride parade, and it was at least twice as large—and chaotic—as the last parade we attended in Chicago fifteen years ago. We figured we’d go to the starting point an hour earlier, but even then we stayed for only three hours. We never figured out when the festivities would start or in which direction the crowds would eventually go.
Compared to reports about pride parades in the U.S., which were marred by protests against the growing anti-gay backlash in most Republican-controlled state legislatures, the Mexico City pride weekend events were static-free and celebratory. Even the small pockets of religious protesters we’d seen in previous years were missing on Saturday.
Upon the recommendation of a friend, the following day we visited the Museum of Remembrance and Tolerance, a most impactful experience that evoked reverence and reflection and was a counterpoint to the noise and crowds of the pride parade.
Though about two-thirds of the exhibits in the ultramodern building in the center of the city are devoted to the Holocaust, its focus is broader than Holocaust museums and memorials Stew and I have visited, including Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Amsterdam and the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.
Instead, the Mexico City museum is divided into two sections, one devoted to remembrance—the Nazi Holocaust, along with sections covering the Armenian genocide, and similar atrocities in the former Yugoslavia, Darfur, Rwanda, Guatemala and Cambodia—and another to tolerance, covering diversity and inclusion; the nature of prejudice and stereotypes; and honored great humanists such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Mother Theresa; Mahatma Gandhi; Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Rigoberta Menchú Tum, the champion of indigenous people in Guatemala. A large display in the lobby recognized Gay Pride Week and explored the types of discrimination and prejudices faced by queer people.
The museum is nothing short of stunning, in the breadth and quality of the exhibits and the architecture. Most encouraging was the size of the crowds attracted by themes one would not think of as popular fare. Lines wound around the block; advance internet tickets are highly recommended, along with audio tours in English, because all the signage is in Spanish. The introduction to a temporary exhibit dedicated to Ann Frank said that it “hopes to attract young people eager to change the world. In the end, the future is in their hands.” May it be so.
We extended our flash visit to Mexico City from two to three days, to accommodate dinners at two restaurants we had heard of but never visited, more walks around the Art Deco district and leafy boulevards of the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods, with frequent stops at sidewalk cafes for coffee and pastries, and watching people walking mostly designer dogs, but also a respectable representation of rescue mutts which did not appear intimidated by their fancier cousins.
As we left to catch the bus back to San Miguel, Stew talked about coming back—renting a condo?—and spending more time in a city we had ignored for too long.
El Rancho Santa Clara 
I did mean to leave a comment but I am not that good with the computer. I was just wondering why words like gay and queer are attached to the LGBT community when they mean happy or odd. I do not get the connection, everyone at some point is either gay or queer.
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After some searching on the internet, it isn’t clear why the word gay came to mean “homosexual”, except that after the riots at the Stonewall bar in NYC in 1969-—which have become a marker for the beginning of the gay liberation movement—it picked up the meaning it has today. As for queer, it had been long used as an offensive epithet used to taunt gay people—like faggot or sissy. But like the N-word, which was originally a derogatory used on Black people, it is now sometimes used by Black people when talking among themselves. The adoptive use “queer” by gay people has in fact taken away of the hurtful connotations. I’m sorry this is not clearer, but that’s all I could figure out.
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Al,
Thank you for your explanation. I think in the future people will look back and perhaps think what a strange way to describe other humans. But maybe our society will one day practice tolerance for each other (my hope).
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I vote for renting a condo. I have been thinking about this idea for sometime now. So much to see and do.
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Maybe we can do a time-share, ha!
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Wonderful article, excited to explore!
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Hey, when are you and Steve coming back to the boonies here? When you do, bring some rain with you, though looking out the window I just realized it’s actually raining here… after a long and anxious wait. I was afraid we might get sucked into the drought that is affecting much of Mexico. Stay well.
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Hola, we will be back on August 10. Very little rain in Chicago, and terrible air conditions due to the fires in Canada. We normally have a full view of the skyline, but nada. Last Monday, the smell of smoke was awful. Wonder if this is the new normal for the summer. Was so looking forward to a torrential downpour. We are in the process of getting stuff ready to move and donating. Have you ever done an article of paring down ones’ belongings? What a daunting experience.
We have been trying to help with the migrants arrival into Chicago. Our district police station is diagonally across the street and many migrants are sleeping there until other arrangements can be made. During the day they are staying outside. Our alderman has set up a community led shelter and I have been helping a former professor from DePaul with doing social media for donations from the neighborhood.
Saw West Side Story at the Lyric Opera, and will be seeing another musical that might go on to Broadway whose name I don’t remember.
Will have lunch with Karen and Jim, later this month. Glenn and I have been trying to connect but not yet. He is finally going through Vicki’s art and wanted us to bring the Mexican themed pieces with us, but he now won’t have them ready by the time we will do. We will be back in October so hopefully he will. I know it is a hard thing for him to be doing. He said the stack was 10 feet high.
Can’t wait for this moving process to be completed and we are enjoying our new casa. Look forward to seeing you both. Gotta go practice my rain dance now.
Abrazos
N and S
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Hey boys, renting a condo for a week or two might by just the answer, since every time we to we’re rushed to get to the bus on time, so maybe a longer stay would be just the ticket…let’s talk.
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We’re talking about a week or more, and actually it might make more sense to just stay at a nice hotel. We really like the Red Tree House. It’s very gay-friendly and homey.
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yeah, especially if we stay in the “annex” across the street, we’re told the rooms are larger, and you can still walk across the street for breakfast and “happy hour” in the late afternoon. Just a thought
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A hotel is a great idea. All you need is a comfortable bed, laundry, and maid service. Too many activities and great restaurants to spend a lot of time in a condo.
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I’m SO SO glad ya’ll enjoyed CDMX!!! Next to NYC, I think it is a magnificent place to visitand to stay. Did you know they have well over 132 museums? I read that that is the most in any city in the world. FAB food too. Great to have seen ya’ll although I wasn’t in the best of shape. Hugs Barbara San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
415 124-9450 Mx Cell 713 589-2721 Vonage
http://www.babsofsanmiguel.blogspot.com
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” Helen Keller
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I agree! And I’m embarrassed to admit it took us this long to begin exploring and appreciating it. Next visit is going to be for the Day of the Dead, maybe a week there, see how they celebrate it. When are you going to start writing for your blog again? We miss it!
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I’m still thinking about it! Need to get my head on straight first……… hugs.
Barbara San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
415 124-9450 Mx Cell 713 589-2721 Vonage
http://www.babsofsanmiguel.blogspot.com
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” Helen Keller
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