LGBTQ+ Advocates Call for Tougher Anti-Homophobia Penalties as Hate Crime Reports Plummet in Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — LGBTQ+ advocates are demanding tougher penalties for homophobic acts as hate crime reports in the state have dropped sharply, according to Wilberth Eleazar Francisco Rosas, coordinator of Sexual Diversity for the Labor Party (PT) in Quintana Roo.

Speaking ahead of the Eco Diverso forum, Rosas lamented that mistreatment of the LGBTQ+ community has become normalized. Without effective sanctions, he said, many victims choose not to report incidents to authorities.

“Unfortunately, most people don’t report. We are victims of discriminatory acts, but we have normalized violence in many sectors: against women, young people, and especially sexual diversity. We’ve normalized it so much that people say, ‘Well, nothing happens.’ Because of that, we’ve stopped reporting,” Rosas said.

He noted that while penalties for homophobia exist, they are not severe enough, leading to widespread disregard for the law. This persists despite awareness campaigns by the Quintana Roo State Human Rights Commission (CDHEQROO).

Discrimination occurs in all spaces, from the public sector to private industry, Rosas said. He cited radio programs that mock the community, with listeners treating it as normal.

“This is important because we are normalizing and mis-educating society and new generations. That’s what really harms us. That’s the red flag, and that’s where all authorities should be working,” he said.

Rosas called on state and municipal governments to join forces and bring visibility to cases of abuse that have even resulted in deaths.