Thousands Demand Justice for Slain LGBTQ+ Activist in Mexico

Marchers rally in Mexico City following the death of Jesús Ociel Baena

Mexico City, November 2023 –

Thousands of people took to the streets of Mexico City on Monday night to demand justice for Jesús Ociel Baena, a prominent LGBTQ+ figure who was found dead in his home in Aguascalientes. Baena, an openly nonbinary individual, served as a magistrate in the Aguascalientes state electoral court and was a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. His untimely death has sent shockwaves through the community.

The lifeless bodies of Baena and his partner, Dorian Herrera, were discovered on Monday morning, both displaying injuries consistent with knife wounds. While the state prosecutor’s office has not ruled out suicide or accident, LGBTQ+ groups have expressed outrage, viewing these suggestions as attempts to downplay violence against their community.

Federal Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez acknowledged the ongoing investigation into the deaths, emphasizing the need to determine whether they were homicides or accidents. However, LGBTQ+ rights groups, such as Letra S, have urged authorities to consider Baena’s visibility on social media and the threats he received as significant factors in the investigation.

Baena, who became a magistrate in October 2022, was a trailblazer within the LGBTQ+ community. As the first nonbinary person to assume a judicial position in Latin America, Baena shattered barriers and garnered a substantial following on social media. In May, Baena was among the first individuals to receive a Mexican passport listing their gender as nonbinary.

The tragic death of Baena highlights the persisting violence faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Mexico. According to Letra S, at least 117 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have been killed in recent years, with many of the cases involving brutal stabbings and public slayings.

The National Observatory of Hate Crimes Against LGBTI+ Persons in Mexico has documented 305 violent hate crimes against sexual minorities between 2019 and 2022, including murders and disappearances. Alejandro Brito, the director of Letra S, expressed concerns that Baena’s death may further incite violence against the LGBTQ+ community, sending a chilling message to those who dare to publicly embrace their identities.

In response to Baena’s tragic death, thousands of demonstrators gathered in the heart of Mexico City. Holding candles and photographs of Baena and other victims of anti-LGBTQ+ violence, they chanted slogans demanding justice and a thorough investigation into the deaths. Among the marchers was Nish López, who came out as nonbinary earlier this year, partly inspired by Baena’s courage.

“I loved them because they challenged societal norms and made people uncomfortable. They showed through their work that change is possible, regardless of gender identity,” López said.

Despite the sorrow and anger felt by the LGBTQ+ community, López remains determined to carry on Baena’s legacy and make their own identity visible. “I’m not scared, I’m angry. I’m here to make myself seen and heard,” López declared.

The tragic death of Jesús Ociel Baena serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Mexico and the need for greater protection against violence and discrimination.