LGBT+ Pride celebrated inside Mexico City men's prison

Inside the Santa Martha Acatitla men's prison in Mexico City, the fifth LGBT+ Pride march unfolded, a vibrant display of resilience and a demand for rights. "Not even locked up do we stay silent!" chanted participants, their colorful flags, glitter, and music echoing through the prison corridors. The marchers, a mix of transgender and cisgender individuals, celebrated their identities and demanded recognition and respect.

Andrea Luna, director of the Trans Collective for the Freedom to Be and Say, recalled the harsh realities of the past, including the discrimination and violence faced by transgender women in male detention centers. She remembered friends who were beaten to death simply for being themselves. "Times have changed," Luna stated, acknowledging the progress made and the "opening" of authorities that allows such an event to occur. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the "happiness of our sisters who exist and resist."

The marchers' energy was met with a mix of reactions from the prison population – cheers, whistles, and some rejection. Yet, the celebration of pride continued with couples embracing and expressing their love. Abel, who is in transition, shared his joy at experiencing romance within the prison walls, something he found difficult upon his arrival. "It rolls off me now" that some people call them names, he said, indicating a growing personal resilience.

Guillermo Mandujano Rosillo, director of the Mexico City Penitentiary System, affirmed the progress in acceptance. "The importance is to make visible, respect for human rights. For us to recognize them, that they enjoy their day, is to make it noticeable, that they enjoy their day," he stated. He contrasted the current situation with the past, where individuals were "pointed out, not respected," concluding that "times have changed."