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FCE deputy manager denounces homophobic aggression
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

FCE deputy manager denounces homophobic aggression

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Víctor Santana, deputy editorial manager at Mexico's Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE), reported experiencing homophobic aggression.
  • Santana alleges a colleague made homophobic remarks in a group chat, which were later deleted but screenshotted.
  • He also claims FCE director Paco Ignacio Taibo II minimized the incident and engaged in revictimization.

Víctor Santana, deputy editorial manager at Mexico's Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE) publishing house, has reported experiencing homophobic aggression during Pride month. Santana alleges that a colleague made discriminatory remarks in a group chat on June 18, remarks that were subsequently deleted but captured in a screenshot.

These kinds of crazy women make me momentarily homophobic. It's not the first time one of them gets stupid with me at work at the slightest provocation.

— ColleagueAlleged homophobic remark made in a group chat.

The colleague's initial message in the FCE Telegram chat reportedly read: "These kinds of crazy women make me momentarily homophobic. It's not the first time one of them gets stupid with me at work at the slightest provocation." Although the colleague later claimed the comment was not directed at Santana, he found it offensive, stating, "I was quite offended, honestly. I don't want to sound exaggerated, but gay men are easily offended throughout life and I am very effeminate, so it's very uncomfortable."

I was quite offended, honestly. I don't want to sound exaggerated, but gay men are easily offended throughout life and I am very effeminate, so it's very uncomfortable.

— Víctor SantanaDescribing his reaction to the colleague's comment.

Santana noted that only one of the approximately 30 colleagues in the chat defended him, pointing out that "there is a stench, and expressly homophobic statements that are not acceptable and should not be admissible in the workplace." He was also surprised by the reaction of FCE director Paco Ignacio Taibo II, who reportedly dismissed the controversy, stating, "The subsequent controversy is declared forgotten" and urged "peace and love among colleagues."

there is a stench, and expressly homophobic statements that are not acceptable and should not be admissible in the workplace.

— Colleague defending SantanaResponding to the initial homophobic remark in the chat.

Expressing his dissatisfaction directly to Taibo, Santana was told by the director that he had not read carefully and that the colleague's statements were unacceptable. Taibo assured Santana that he would "take action." However, by June 22, Santana reported no consequences. Instead, an in-person meeting was organized, partly to encourage workers to "make peace." Santana viewed this as an act of revictimization and refused to attend. Taibo then messaged Santana, stating he had spoken with the colleague, informed her that her expressions were unacceptable, that she had "let her demons loose," and that the term "crazy women" was "an insult to everyone." Taibo added, "You are not the one insulted, this is not a personal matter, and perhaps we can all learn from it (...) I don't think you are in a position to say whether you attend or not."

The subsequent controversy is declared forgotten and urged 'peace and love among colleagues.'

— Paco Ignacio Taibo IIInitial response to the reported incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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