Cancún, Quintana Roo — The LGBTIQ+ community in Quintana Roo is demanding that its electoral weight translate into genuine political representation, with activists warning that the so-called “pink vote” could become a decisive factor in upcoming elections.
Members of major sexual diversity collectives in Cancún insisted that positions reserved for the community should be filled by people with a proven track record in defending their rights.
Miguel Dzib, a member of the Cancún International Pride Committee, said the LGBTIQ+ population represents about 6 percent of the total population, according to data from INEGI, the national statistics agency. That would translate to between 60,000 and 70,000 votes in Quintana Roo — enough to sway an election or even help a political party maintain its registration.
“People who have fought for years for diversity rights deserve those spaces. Many of the public policies that benefit our community today were driven by activists who worked for decades without seeking public office,” Dzib said.
He criticized cases where representation positions for sexual diversity have gone to people with no prior community work. Dzib argued that political parties should approach those who have built a career in human rights and inclusion.
Dzib acknowledged he would be interested in running for office in the future. “I am interested because I have a long history and track record of work on LGBTIQ+ issues. Civil society people should occupy those spaces because we built them and worked for years,” he said.
Fernando Manzur, president of Cancún Pride Oficial, clarified that his organization has no party affiliation and focuses on raising awareness of the needs and issues facing sexual diversity in Cancún.
“Cancún Pride Oficial is not a political group. We seek to generate visibility, open spaces for dialogue, and work with associations, collectives, and organized civil society. There are very capable people within the community, but it is not our role to position them,” Manzur said.
He acknowledged that strong leadership exists within the diversity community that could play an important role in public life, but noted that politics requires preparation and experience to meet its challenges.
As new electoral processes approach, the pink vote is gaining relevance on the state political stage. For activists, the demand is clear: representation of the LGBTIQ+ community should not fall to opportunists, but to those who have worked for years for equality, inclusion, and recognition of their rights.
