Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The municipal government of Playa del Carmen is preparing a new edition of same-sex weddings and a gender identity rectification drive for members of the LGBT+ community, scheduled for June, with the official call for participants to be released in the coming days, according to Ryan Espinosa, director of the city’s Sexual Diversity Office.
Espinosa said the initiatives are part of agreements previously approved by the city council and aim to guarantee access to rights for LGBT+ individuals, particularly for couples seeking civil marriage and for transgender people who need to update their official documents to reflect their gender identity.
There is already a waiting list of people interested in taking part in both the weddings and the identity rectification processes, Espinosa noted. Municipal departments are working on organizing the procedures and publicizing the requirements.
While the municipal fee for the weddings will be waived, participants will still need to cover some state taxes and fees related to the issuance of official documents and certifications, he explained. These payments are administered by the state government, not the city.
Before the reforms that streamlined these procedures, some individuals had to pay much larger sums to change their identity or complete certain legal processes, Espinosa said. The goal now is to reduce bureaucratic barriers and provide support to applicants throughout the process.
The Sexual Diversity Office is coordinating with the Civil Registry and other municipal areas to offer guidance and follow-up for those seeking to correct their birth certificates and official documents. Municipal staff have received training in human rights and inclusion to ensure proper service for LGBT+ individuals.
According to Espinosa, Playa del Carmen has become a regional reference for inclusion, attracting people from other municipalities and states who come to carry out gender identity recognition procedures.
He urged interested individuals to watch the official social media channels of the city government and the Sexual Diversity Office for the calls, dates, requirements, and procedures. The expectation is to surpass previous years’ numbers, enabling more couples to formalize their unions through civil marriage and increasing the number of people benefiting from gender identity rectification.
“The most important thing is that all people have access to these rights and can experience this moment with dignity and support,” Espinosa said.
In addition to the official procedures, the city is considering organizing special activities for participating couples to make the ceremony a meaningful experience.
Municipal authorities said the final details of the call, including requirements for both the weddings and the gender identity rectification procedures, will be announced in the coming days.
