MEXICO CITY (AP) — Even after 5 years of dwelling collectively in the Pacific resort metropolis of Acapulco, one thing so simple as holding arms or sharing a kiss in public is unthinkable for Dayanny Marcelo and Mayela Villalobos.
There is an ever-present worry of being rejected or attacked in Guerrero, a state the place same-sex relationships aren’t broadly accepted and considered one of 5 in Mexico the place same-sex marriage remains to be not allowed.
But this week they traveled the 235 miles (380 kilometers) to Mexico’s capital, the place town authorities hosted a mass wedding for same-sex {couples} as a part of celebrations of LGBT Pride Month.
Under a tent arrange in the plaza of the capital’s civil registry, together with about 100 different same-sex {couples}, Villalobos and Marcelo sealed their union Friday with a kiss whereas the wedding march performed in the background.
Their capacity to wed is taken into account one of many LGBT neighborhood’s best current achievements in Mexico. It is now doable in 27 of Mexico’s 32 states and has been twice upheld by the Supreme Court.
Mexico, Brazil and Argentina high Latin America in the variety of same-sex marriages.
Mariaurora Mota, a pacesetter of the Mexican LGBTTTI+ Coalition, mentioned the motion nonetheless is working to ensure in all of Mexico the suitable to vary one’s id, have entry to well being care and social safety and to let transsexual minors change their gender on their beginning certificates.
Walking round Mexico City a day earlier than their wedding, Marcelo and Villalobos confessed to feeling unusual holding arms in town streets. Displays of affection between same-sex {couples} in the capital are commonplace, but it surely was tough to shed their inhibititions.
“I feel nervous,” mentioned Villalobos, a 30-year-old laptop science main, as Marcelo held her hand.
Villalobos grew up in the northern state of Coahuila in a conservative Christian neighborhood. She all the time felt an “internal struggle,” as a result of she knew she had a distinct sexual orientation, however feared her household would reject her. “I always cried because I wanted to be normal,” she mentioned.
She got here out to her mom when she was 23. She thought that transferring to Acapulco in 2017 with a younger niece would give her extra freedom.
Villalobos met Marcelo, a local of the seashore city, there. Marcelo, a 29-year-old store worker, mentioned her acceptance of her sexual orientation was not as traumatic as Villalobos’, however she nonetheless didn’t come out as pansexual till she was 24. She mentioned she had been aided by the Mexico City group Cuenta Conmigo, — Count on Me — which supplies academic and psychological help.
Walking across the capital this week with large rainbow flags hanging from public buildings and smaller ones flapping in entrance of many companies, Villalobos couldn’t assist however examine it to her native state and her current dwelling in Guerrero.
“In the same country the people are very open and in another (place) … the people are close-minded, with messages of hate toward the community,” she mentioned.
Elihú Rendón, a 28-year-old administrative worker for a ride-sharing software, and Javier Vega Candia, a 26-year-old theater instructor, grew up in Mexico City and popping out for them was not so difficult.
“We’re in a city where they’re opening all of the rights and possibilities to us, including doing this communal LGBT wedding,” mentioned Vega Candia as he held out Rendon’s hand to indicate off a hoop he had given him shortly earlier than they moved in collectively.
When they stroll by way of town’s streets they don’t hesitate to specific affection, generally hugging and dancing in a crosswalk whereas visitors was stopped.
“I’m happy to have been born in this city thinking that we have these rights and not in another country where we could be killed,” Vega Candia mentioned.
Villalobos and Marcelo don’t count on a lot in their each day lives to vary once they return to Acapulco as a married couple. But Marcelo mentioned that with the wedding certificates, she’s going to attempt to get Villalobos included on the medical health insurance she receives by way of her employer.
“With a marriage certificate it is easier,” Marcelo mentioned. “If something happens to me or something happens to her, we’ll have proof that we’re together.”