LGBTQ+ Groups in Southern Quintana Roo Say They Are Abandoned by State Congress

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — LGBTQ+ groups in southern Quintana Roo say they have been left unprotected and abandoned due to a lack of decisive action from the state congress, according to Yair Córdova, president of an LGBT Plus association in Bacalar.

Córdova stated that the collectives, which represent people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, or expressions and advocate for equal rights, visibility, and non-discrimination, are practically neglected. He criticized the absence of a legislative agenda for legal protection and recognition, despite attempts to contact Deputy Lilia Inés Mis Martínez, who heads the Human Rights Commission in the XVIII Legislature and has claimed to be an ally of the movement.

He denounced that bureaucratic processes and unclear communication channels have prevented any meaningful engagement. “We have not been attended to, even though we try to connect with people who can actually help us materialize something,” Córdova said. “Honestly, we have a social reading of her as being very performative—lots of photos—and that really delays her from freeing up her agenda or sending an official notice for a hearing. We don’t know the mechanism to contact her. We know she’s aware that there are collectives and that she has approached others on issues that are not less important, but not as high-priority. In the southern zone, there hasn’t been that kind of outreach.”

Córdova emphasized that there is a structural lag in the south regarding the guarantee of human rights for sexual and gender-diverse individuals, stemming from a lack of interest in legislating with a true gender perspective. This results in ineffective follow-up and support, especially for those living their orientation or identity in vulnerable contexts.

While acknowledging some progress in rights recognition, he noted that changes have been insufficient to eliminate discrimination and ensure de facto equality. He called for more openness from the head of the Human Rights Commission in the Quintana Roo Congress to listen to their needs. “Between what’s important, urgent, and a priority, anyone can text or post photos, but that doesn’t help with providing accompaniment or supporting you with treatment,” Córdova added. “She doesn’t have that gender perspective, and we don’t know if she’s willing to help because there hasn’t been contact with her. It’s not a partisan issue either—one thing is to make it political, and this shouldn’t be seen that way. It’s just that she hasn’t had the outreach that there’s supposed to be.”

He asserted that the demands stem from the need to build effective public policies that translate into real protection of their rights, rather than political discourse or photo opportunities.