Renowned LGBTQ Activist and Mexico’s First Openly Non-Binary Magistrate Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo Found Dead

By Belén Zapata, CNNE

Guadalajara, Mexico (CNN) — Mexico’s LGBTQ community mourns the tragic loss of Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo, a prominent LGBTQ activist and the country’s first openly non-binary magistrate. Baena Saucedo was found dead at their home in Aguascalientes, a central state in Mexico, on Monday. The authorities also discovered the lifeless body of Baena’s romantic partner at the same location.

The cause of death remains unknown, according to Mexico’s Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez. Authorities in Aguascalientes, led by Attorney General Jesús Figueroa, also stated that there is no evidence of foul play at this time.

Rodríguez assured the public that a thorough investigation into the case would be conducted. She made this statement during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s daily press conference on Monday.

Preliminary findings from the prosecutor’s office revealed that no traces of blood were found outside the crime scene, and there was no damage observed to the accessways of the residence. The authorities are currently ruling out the involvement of a third party in the deaths. The office further stated that one of the lifeless bodies found was holding a cutting instrument.

Given Baena’s identification as a non-binary individual, Figueroa emphasized that the case would be investigated from a gender perspective. However, there is no indication at this stage that the deaths are potentially linked to a hate crime.

Baena had served as a member of the Electoral Tribunal in the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes for over a year. In an interview with CNN en Español in October of last year, Baena highlighted the significance of being the first non-binary magistrate in Latin America. They considered it an achievement and recognition for the years of work dedicated to advancing LGBTQ rights.

“I want to send the message that the LGBTQ population can access these spaces, that there is a possibility, that we have people with enough profile who, based on their own merits, can access these positions where decisions are made,” Baena expressed during the interview.

While Latin America has made substantial progress in terms of marriage equality over the years, LGBTQ+ activists and gender minorities continue to face high levels of violence and discrimination, particularly from social and religious conservatives.

Last year, same-sex marriage was legalized across all 32 states of Mexico after Tamaulipas became the final state to authorize such unions. This month, Mexico’s Guadalajara city jointly hosted the Gay Games with Hong Kong, marking a historic moment for both continents to host this gender-inclusive sporting event, despite facing opposition from conservative politicians.