# Are Gays Persecuted in Mexico? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032 "2013-01-22T19:54:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/1 "2013-01-22T19:54:42Z")
A gay cow-orker and I were discussing vacation plans today. He mentioned that he’s always wanted to go to Cancun, but his fear if going to jail for being gay has prevented it. •Note: he has get mannerisms and speech and would likely ping anyone’s gaydar. I get that Mexican culture might not, on the whole, be particularly accepting of gays, but I’ve never heard of gays being jailed there. Is my friend’s fear a legitimate one? BTW, I apologize for the “sent from my phone blah blah blah” spam. It’s automatic when I post from my phone and I don’t know how to disable it. Sent from my SGH-i677 using Board Express ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/2 "2013-01-22T20:54:09Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > •Note: he has get mannerisms and speech and would likely ping anyone’s gaydar. I know this doesn’t answer your question, but couldn’t he just ‘turn off his gayness’ when he’s in Mexico? I’m not trying to be funny; it’s a serious question. I’ve personally never heard of it happening, but I know that gay Latinos go to incredible lengths to conceal it from their cohorts. However, it would seem to me that money speaks louder than actions. He’s bringing tourist dollars to the area. I’m guessing that trumps anything. He could probably hump a dog right on the beach and nobody would care as long as he’s tossing enough money around. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/3 "2013-01-22T21:41:24Z")
A simple web search shows that his fears are groundless. Homosexuality is perfectly legal in Mexico, although (as in America) some people and some areas are friendlier than others and violence against gay people is not unknown. Cancun has large numbers of gay tourists. Heck, same sex marriage is even legal in Mexico City and a few other places. It’s no gay utopia, but no one is going to put him in jail for having a little sugar in his shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/4 "2013-01-22T21:48:58Z")
Orking cows, on the other hand, can buy you some serious time. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/5 "2013-01-22T21:51:29Z")
[Hell, they’re more advanced than the U.S. when it comes to marriage equality.](http://www.salon.com/2012/12/06/mexican_supreme_court_rules_for_marriage_equality/) ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/6 "2013-01-22T21:51:48Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > I know this doesn’t answer your question, but couldn’t he just ‘turn off his gayness’ when he’s in Mexico? I’m not trying to be funny; it’s a serious question. I assume you don’t necessarily mean “turn off his gayness,” you mean “turn off his gay mannerisms.” It certainly seems reasonable. It’s been done that way here in the USA for years. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/7 "2013-01-22T22:05:25Z")
Wikipedia has an _incredibly_ comprehensive series of articles titled “LGBT rights in X”, where you can substitute any country’s name for X. The article [LGBT rights in Mexico](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Mexico) says that gay sex is legal (has been since 1871!), that federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of “sexual preferences”, and that same-sex marriage is recognized in Mexico City. So it seems there is no reason to fear legal persecution. The article also mentions that gay tourism is popular in Cancún. > [@Washoe](#): > > I know this doesn’t answer your question, but couldn’t he just ‘turn off his gayness’ when he’s in Mexico? I’m not trying to be funny; it’s a serious question. Some gay people can, and some can’t. I’m quite, uh, stereotypically-masculine in ordinary behaviour, and gay mannerisms are an affectation which I can turn on and off. But some of my friends are much “gayer” in ordinary behaviour and they really can’t turn it off, no matter how hard they try. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/8 "2013-01-23T02:43:55Z")
Hola. I live in Mexico. The general populace thinks gays are funny (like strange), but they in no way look down on their lifestyle. They totally accept this life style. No problemas here. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/9 "2013-01-23T03:47:44Z")
Even in places where homosexuality is illegal(enforced or not) harassing a tourist would probably be unheard of. Can anyone find one instance of a tourist being arrested for being gay? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/10 "2013-01-23T04:07:50Z")
Good comments already. Let me just add that, in the Yucatan Peninsula’s other major city, Merida, there is a population (not sure how many, perhaps several hundred) of Cuban-born gays, who (I’ve been told) left Cuba due to discrimination there. They are generally well regarded by the other city residents – many are artistically inclined (e.g., dance teachers). Just a data point which underscores what others have said. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/11 "2013-01-23T04:13:48Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Even in places where homosexuality is illegal(enforced or not) harassing a tourist would probably be unheard of. Can anyone find one instance of a tourist being arrested for being gay? You generally have to do something more than just being gay. [These tourists](http://abcnews.go.com/US/gay-cruise-tourists-arrested-onboard-gay-sex-dominica/story?id=15978498) were arrested in Dominica, where gay sex is illegal, for indecent exposure. They were having sex on a cruise ship balcony. And [these tourists](http://www.afrol.com/articles/29177) were arrested in Gambia, apparently for soliciting gay sex. But as everyone else has said, this is not an issue in Mexico. The OP’s coworker reminds me of a friend of mine who is afraid to visit certain parts of the U.S. because she fears violence against Jews. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/12 "2013-01-23T04:19:51Z")
I’m guessing your gay cow-orker has never heard of Puerto Vallarta which is very gay friendly with gay clubs, restaurants, and hotels-all flying the rainbow flag. I’m heading to Cancun next month with my partner and I’m not worried at all. [Jamaica on the other hand.](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/jamaica-vacation-tips-1376.html) > [@](#): > > . Jamaica harbors strong anti-gay sentiment; sex between men is illegal, violence against gays is a theme of Jamaican pop music and police and government officials have condoned and even participated in the harassment of homosexuals, according to the State Department. In 2006, a Time magazine headline speculated that Jamaica is the “most homophobic place on Earth.” The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s executive director has warned openly gay people against traveling to Jamaica, according to [CruiseMates.com](http://CruiseMates.com). [Or worse:](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/world/americas/24jamaica.html?pagewanted=all) > [@](#): > > One night last month, Andre and some friends were finishing dinner when a mob showed up at the front gate. Yelling antigay slurs and waving machetes, sticks and knives, 15 to 20 men kicked in the front door of the home he and his friends had rented and set upon them. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/13 "2013-01-23T04:46:36Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > I know this doesn’t answer your question, but couldn’t he just ‘turn off his gayness’ when he’s in Mexico? I’m not trying to be funny; it’s a serious question. Sounds like an episode of _Will & Grace_ gone horribly awry. Actually, that sounds _exactly_ like an episode of _Will and Grace._ ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/14 "2013-01-23T07:06:20Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Sounds like an episode of _Will & Grace_ gone horribly awry. > > Actually, that sounds _exactly_ like an episode of _Will and Grace._ Will: \ Now Jack, you know that we’re in Mexico, it’s practically a third world country and that have ideas about… \ us… that are backward and primitive, so you need to… \ butch it up a bit. Jack: \ No, can do, Will-o. Wait 'till they get a load of… \ solo Juan! Ah, so bad. Both the good and the bad kind of bad. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-gays-persecuted-in-mexico/648032/15 "2013-01-23T18:20:07Z")
> [@ctnguy](#): > > Wikipedia has an _incredibly_ comprehensive series of articles titled “LGBT rights in X”, where you can substitute any country’s name for X. The article [LGBT rights in Mexico](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Mexico) says that gay sex is legal (has been since 1871!), that federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of “sexual preferences”, and that same-sex marriage is recognized in Mexico City. So it seems there is no reason to fear legal persecution. To be precise on this issue, the validity of an existing Mexican SSM is recognized everywhere in Mexico. But contracting a SSM is legal only in the D.F. (Mexico City and environs, corresponding more or less to D.C.), and apparently now in Quintana Roo – which is the location of the “Mayan Riviera” including places such as Cancun, Cozumel, etc. But a marriage contracted in DF (and maybe QR) will be recognized in all states, even if one cannot contract a SSM there. (By way of parallel, think of the situation in New York State and Maryland prior to the legalization of SSM there – they recognized other states’ SSMs, but did not themselves perform them.) AFAICT, there is no formal decision on whether ‘foreign’ (US, Canadian, Dutch, Spanish, etc.) SSMs will be recognized in Mexican law.