Pamela Sandoval Gómez
Hairdresser and Delegate from the Center for Studies and Projects for Integral Human Development, A.C. (Ceprodehi) | Tixtla de Guerrero, Guerrero It was my sexual preference that led me to human rights defense work. My roots are very humble. My parents are from the mountains, and when they brought me to the capital, to Chilpancingo, I was still not accepted. I then decided to work in human rights. I studied to be a primary school teacher, but because of one homophobic teacher I had to cut my career short and spend my time doing something else. I decided to study cosmetology so that I would not have to depend on my family. Later, I wanted to emigrate, and I spent 10 years in the United States. That is where I got in contact with human rights groups, but I never fully participated until I got involved with Ceprodehi. I have been working there for five years now.
for the LGBTI [Lesbian, Gay, Transexual, Bisexual, Intersex] community. He worked full-time to defend the rights of the community. I do not think this is right. I hope that we have a response to his death. We are demanding an exhaustive investigation; we do not want scapegoats, no.
I have received a lot of criticism, but I have always responded to this criticism by saying that we have fought since we were young so [that men] can put on makeup, dye their hair, shave, and wear earrings. Society was not open to this before; we created this opening so that the gay community could be included. It is not that strange, we only want respect and we want people to know that we are [normal] people, that is all. Technology has advanced, but we have a very small space within society because, within quotes, we are “accepted” but in reality we are discriminated [against]. Just while going to the bank, doing something as simple as paying a bill, the discrimination is clear. I think the problem is not the lack of information, it is the strongly rooted machismo that we have had since the time of our ancestors. We cannot separate this from our everyday lives.
Now I am organizing the first march for sexual diversity in Tixtla. The marches that we organize always have a goal, and now the main goal is our demand for clarity in the death of Quetzalcoatl Lejía.
As of June [2011], there were already 25 assassinations because of homophobia. This is simple—we have to eradicate homophobia. The death of Quetzalcoatl Lejía in May of this year was one of the most difficult moments for me because he was a brilliant person. It was one of the most painful moments that we have faced together as an organization. They stoned him. That is the worst part, his death was awful. In these circumstances it is still hard to accept. He was a brilliant political scientist and he had a lot of ideas 54
Dignas | PBI México
When we were at his funeral, a great force took hold of the organization. Instead of falling, we got up with greater impetus to continue to fight for the work that he did. He lobbied to prevent discrimination in the state and from there he worked to establish norms. He wanted to lobby for marriage and adoption in the gay community, as well as to classify hate crimes in the penal code.
«Within quotes we are accepted but in reality we are discriminated.» We also held an event in the auditorium in the town hall in a low-income neighborhood. They decorated the stage with paper flowers and everyone participated. We collected 60 food baskets and I delivered 60 kilos of used clothes. We also carried out a brigade to provide free hair cuts. I also give free hair cuts at the federal prison. The organization is about to get larger. It is not just about working with the LGBTI community—we have to work for all vulnerable groups, for all of the people that really need support.
Dignas | PBI México
55