Mexico is on the verge of potentially electing its first female president, with Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez emerging as the frontrunners in the upcoming elections. Despite being women, their stance on gender-related policies, particularly abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, remains unclear. Currently, twelve states in Mexico have decriminalized abortion, with national laws prohibiting abortions being deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2023. However, challenges persist in making abortion safe, accessible, and government-funded in these states.
The next president of Mexico may not directly impact abortion legislation, as each state has autonomy over its penal code. However, the president could influence their party members’ attitudes towards abortion and other related rights. Activists are concerned about the lack of specific proposals addressing abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and migrant protection from the leading candidates. Conservative groups hope for policies that encourage births and oppose criminalizing women who have abortions.
In order to rule with a feminist perspective, it is important to integrate feminists into the government and prioritize issues such as reproductive justice, comprehensive sexual education, access to contraceptives, and LGBTQ+ rights. Mexico’s “macho” culture and highly religious population have often led to violence against the LGBTQ+ community, with hundreds of homicides documented in recent years. While same-sex marriage is recognized in all Mexican states, some LGBTQ+ rights are yet to be guaranteed nationwide, such as legal recognition of gender identity for trans people.
The needs of the LGBTQ+ community are often overlooked in Mexican presidential elections, despite ongoing attacks and killings targeting this population. Letra S, a human rights organization, has documented numerous homicides of LGBTQ+ individuals in recent years, highlighting their vulnerability. Sheinbaum and Gálvez, the leading candidates, have not provided specific plans to address the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Advocates emphasize the importance of government engagement with LGBTQ+ organizations, allocation of resources to address violence, support for LGBTQ+ migrants, and alignment of local legislation with court rulings on LGBTQ+ rights.
Amidst the upcoming presidential elections in Mexico, the issue of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights remains a pressing concern for activists and human rights organizations. The lack of specific proposals from leading candidates on these topics raises questions about the future direction of gender-related policies in the country. As Mexico prepares to potentially elect its first female president, the importance of ruling with a feminist perspective, integrating feminists into the government, and prioritizing reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ rights cannot be understated. A comprehensive approach is needed to address the challenges faced by women and the LGBTQ+ community in Mexico.
