Patlatonalli

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In June of 2003, the Bishop of Guadalajara held a special morning mass. Demons, he warned, were about to take over the city that afternoon. The demons he was referring to were the marchers in the Gay Pride Parade.

This kind of provocation and incitement toward LGBT people is commonplace in Mexico. And its repercussions are chilling. Headlines blare with murders of gay men, who are tortured and left to die in closets. The message for those who step outside the norms of gender and sexual behavior couldn't be clearer.

Enter Patlatonalli. They are sending a much different message. Mexico's oldest lesbian human rights organization is celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population of Mexico. They are working within the system to help keep this community safe and legally recognized.

Patlatonalli's All Families Are Sacred campaign is a project designed to educate communities about the lives of lesbian families. It is groundbreaking work, reaching people living in rural areas rife with machismo, homophobia and religious zeal. Patlatonalli is working strategically and quickly. Forthcoming are a teacher's guide to help tackle the subject of sexual diversity, a postcard and poster campaign, and a photography exhibit celebrating lesbian families.

In November 2004, they published the children's book, Tengo Una Tia Que No Es Monjita (I Have An Aunt Who Is Not A Dear Little Nun). In it, eight-year-old Meli discovers that her aunt is not married (nor does she want to be), that she is not a nun and that she has a girlfriend whom she loves. Using vibrant colors and illustrations, it opens the doors of tolerance for kids of all ages—and their parents. A call for submissions has gone out for two more children's books.

Mexico has a strong set of anti-discrimination laws, but they are selectively enforced. A woman walking down the street holding her partner's hand can be fined or jailed. While Patlatonalli works to enforce those protective laws on the books, they are also working to strike down homophobic statutes. And in coalition with other human rights groups they are establishing a legal help line for those discriminated against because of their gender or sexual identities.

Patlatonalli's work and inclusive politics are held in high regard by human rights organizations around the world. In addition to focusing their efforts on improving life for the LGBT community, the group also advocates on behalf of all who suffer from unnecessary stigma and scorn: victims of domestic violence; those combating AIDS discrimination; and those facing hardships as a result of their sexual or gender identity.

Patlatonalli is a human rights group advocating on behalf of lesbians and the LGBT community in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the surrounding region. Astraea has funded Patlatonalli since 1998.

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