Mexican Non-binary Magistrate Jesús Ociel Baena Found Dead

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Mexican LGBTQ+ Activist Jesús Ociel Baena Found Dead in Their Home

Mexico was left in shock and mourning as the news broke that Jesús Ociel Baena, the country’s first openly non-binary magistrate, had been found dead in their home. Baena, who had been receiving death threats, was a staunch LGBTQ+ activist and trailblazer, known throughout Mexico and Latin America for their unwavering dedication to equality.

According to police reports, Baena’s body was discovered on Monday alongside another individual, who local media identified as their partner. Security minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez stated that the cause of death has not yet been confirmed as either a “homicide” or “some kind of accident,” and investigations are ongoing.

Baena’s historic appointment to the state electoral court in October last year was hailed as a breakthrough for a country known for its transphobia. Their appointment was seen as a significant step forward for the non-binary community, as they broke through the invisible barriers that often marginalized and silenced individuals.

Despite Mexico being statistically and legally accepting of LGB people, transgender and non-binary individuals continue to face routine discrimination and abuse. Many rights that are afforded to same-sex couples and LGB people, including housing and employment discrimination protections, are not extended to trans and non-binary people.

Additionally, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people remain alarmingly high in Mexico. In 2019 alone, at least 117 people were killed in such hate crimes, as documented by the LGBTQ+ rights group Letra S. The news of Baena’s death has sparked outrage and demands for justice from activists, who accuse the police of routinely disregarding the murders of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Mexico’s capital in protest and held a candlelight vigil to honor Baena’s memory. They called for accountability and an end to the violence that disproportionately affects the LGBTQ+ community. Alejandro Brito, the director of Letra S, urged authorities to consider the homophobic abuse Baena faced during their tenure as a magistrate, emphasizing that hate messages and threats cannot be ignored in the investigation.

Brito stated, “If this was a crime motivated by prejudice, these kinds of crimes always have the intention of sending a message. The message is an intimidation, it’s to say: ‘This is what could happen to you if you make your identities public.'”

The tragic death of Jesús Ociel Baena has shed light on the ongoing struggles faced by transgender and non-binary individuals in Mexico. It serves as a stark reminder that despite progress in some areas, there is still much work to be done to ensure equality and protection for all members of the LGBTQ+ community..