Mexican LGBTQ+ Activists Demand Justice for Murdered Non-Binary Magistrate Jesús Ociel Baena

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Activists in Mexico are in disagreement with authorities over the cause of Jesús Ociel Baena’s death, the country’s first out non-binary magistrate. Baena was found dead alongside another individual, identified as their partner Dorian Daniel Nieves, in the city of Aguascalientes. Police suspect that Nieves may have killed Baena and then themselves, but Baena’s family and rights organizations dispute this theory.

Chief prosecutor Jesús Figueroa has stated that Baena had 20 wounds on their body, including one on their neck, and forensic evidence suggests that Nieves wielded the murder weapon. However, investigations are still ongoing. Baena’s father has criticized the police hypothesis, stating that it would be a shame to let an incorrect judgment be made by the justice system. Rights organizations are calling for the police to investigate whether Baena and Nieves’ deaths were a hate crime, as Baena had received death threats.

Baena was a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and trailblazer in Mexico and Latin America, known for their dedication to equality. Their historic appointment to the state electoral court last year was seen as a breakthrough in a country known for its transphobia. Baena was also among the first group of people to be issued a gender-neutral passport earlier this year.

Activists have held candlelight vigils in several cities across Mexico in memory of Baena. Alejandro Brito, the director of LGBTQ+ rights group Letra S, called on authorities to consider the possibility that the crime was motivated by prejudice. He emphasized that crimes targeting LGBTQ+ individuals are intended to send a message of intimidation.

Despite Mexico legally accepting LGB individuals, transgender and non-binary people still face discrimination and abuse. Many rights and protections granted to same-sex couples and LGB individuals are not extended to trans and non-binary individuals. Hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community remain high, with at least 117 people killed in 2019, according to Letra S.

Attendees at the vigils described Baena as a significant figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and urged the police to continue investigating the case rather than dismissing it as a “crime of passion.” The disagreement between activists and authorities highlights the ongoing struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Mexico and the need for justice and equality..