Cancún Debates Identity and Rights as Therian Community Plans First Public Event

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A public debate over identity, civil rights, and mental health has erupted in Cancún ahead of the first local event for the Therian community, scheduled for February 22 at Parque Las Palapas. The gathering has drawn responses from public officials, legislators, and mental health professionals, highlighting divisions over how to address emerging identity expressions.

Officials Distance Therian Identity from LGBTQ+ Movement

Noamhy Hermida Nieves, head of the Directorate for Attention to Sexual Diversity in Benito Juárez, has drawn a clear line between the Therian community—individuals who identify spiritually or psychologically as animals—and the historical LGBTQ+ movement. She argues that including Therians under the umbrella of sexual diversity could undermine hard-won political gains.

“Including this group in the sexual diversity agenda could diminish the political and social achievements reached; the historical struggle of the sector has focused on recognition as men or women,” Hermida Nieves stated, emphasizing that Therian identity appears to stem from sociological factors or a search for belonging rather than biological or gender-based conditions. She suggested scientific analysis might link such expressions to neurodivergence, like autism or ADHD, requiring authorities to approach the topic with professional neutrality.

Legislator Advocates for Inclusive Rights

In contrast, Quintana Roo Congressman Santiago Frías, a member of the Youth Development Commission, framed the issue around universal rights. He asserted that the state should be a place where freedom of beliefs and ideologies is the norm, not the exception.

“When rights are not for everyone, they are not rights, they are privileges. All rights are for all people and for all cultures and subcultures that may exist,” Frías said. He stressed that any group expressing itself peacefully and responsibly deserves attention from representatives, and ignoring new social dynamics would constitute a failure of constitutional duty. Frías noted that young people identifying as Therians will vote, pay taxes, and participate in society, making it essential to legislate with a forward-looking vision.

Mental Health Expert Warns Against Stigmatization

Mental health specialist Sandybel Robaldino provided a clinical perspective, clarifying that Therian identity is not classified as a pathology in international diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5 or ICD-11. Instead, she described it as a symbolic identity construction or psychological language allowing individuals to express aspects of their inner self.

“It is crucial to differentiate a symbolic identity from a serious disorder; animal identification is metaphorical and spiritual. There is no functional impairment, and the person knows they are human,” Robaldino explained. She emphasized that Therians have not lost touch with reality and cautioned against misinformation linking such identities to severe disorders or zoophilia, which fosters discrimination and isolation.

Event to Feature Walk and Animal Movement Exhibition

The Therian community event at Parque Las Palapas will include a visibility walk and group activities, featuring exhibitions of quadrobics—a sport involving imitation of animal movements. Organizers bill it as a gathering for “all races and species,” marking a shift from online anonymity to Cancún’s most iconic public space.

The debate tests Cancún’s reputation as a cosmopolitan and tolerant city, with critics warning of social decay and supporters seeing an opportunity for empathy and respect for diversity. The outcome may influence how authorities legislate and govern for a generation increasingly uncomfortable with traditional human identity categories.