Within the Zapotec Indigenous culture in the state of Oaxaca, there is a group that dates back to the pre-colonial times called “Los muxes,” who were born male but dress and behave in a feminine way. Los muxes resisted against the heteronormative standard which was forcibly imposed on Indigenous groups during the colonial era, and to this day they continue to disrupt gender binaries and campaign for greater acceptance of sexual diversity.
COLONIALISM AND HETERONORMATIVITY
In the pre-colonial age in Mexico and Central America, gender was not a binary as it is today. Anthropologists have found evidence of non-binary Aztec priests and Mayan gods who were both men and women at the same time. Historical linguists have studied the Zapotec language and have discovered that, unlike many Latin-based languages, Zapotec was a language without gender. The term “la-ave” was used to describe people, regardless of their gender identity.
Then, in 1519, Spanish coloniser Hernán Cortés arrived in the state of Veracruz, and shortly after, in 1523, the Catholic missionaries arrived. The colonisers considered the non-heteronormative relationships of the Indigenous peoples to be immoral and incorrect, and they swiftly prohibited them. They also forced many Indigenous people to convert to Catholicism and abide by the Catholic beliefs when it came to sexual relationships. Those who continued “immoral” relationships were often persecuted. In what nowadays is Panama, there was violence of colonial heteronormativity when the Spanish coloniser Vasco Núñez de Balboa sent the brother of an Indigenous king and 40 of his companions “to the dogs” for dressing in women’s clothing.
In today’s Mexico, there are two views regarding the LGBTQIA+ communities. On the one hand, Mexico is one of the more progressive Latin American countries and was one of the first countries in the region to legalise same-sex marriage, albeit only in some states. On the other hand, the heteronormative legacy of colonialism is still very much present in contemporary society. Human rights groups say that Mexico is the second most dangerous country in the world for transgender women. From 2012 to 2018, 473 hate crimes were registered, of which 261 [in Spanish] were against transgender women. It should be noted that the actual figure is likely to be much higher due to the high rate of impunity in Mexico, which in turn leads to the underreporting of crimes. [in Spanish] The Catholic Church also continues to fight against LGBTQIA+ acceptance to the point where activist groups have accused it of instigating hate crimes. [in Spanish]
LOS MUXES
Los muxes describe themselves as Mexico’s “third gender,” [in Spanish] and they actively reject labels of male, female, or travesti. Historians are not certain of the exact origins of the muxe movement, however, they are sure that they were thriving in the pre-colonial era. [in Spanish] In the constant struggle to maintain their roots and traditions, the muxes celebrate the annual festival “La Vela de las Auténticas Intrépidas Buscadoras del Peligro,” which can be translated as “the Vigil of the Authentic Intrepid Danger Seekers”. The festival started in 1976 and is a celebration that stretches over several days, in which thousands of people come to celebrate the muxes and to crown the “queen” of the muxes. [in Spanish]
Currently, the exact number of muxes is unknown. In 2017 it was estimated that there were around 5,000. Despite the dangers for transgender women in Mexico, the muxes are generally accepted because of their cultural heritage dating back more than 500 years and they are visible not only regionally, but also nationally and globally. In 2003, the first muxe, Amaranta Gómez Regalado, ran for federal deputy; although she did not win the election, her nomination represents acceptance on a socio-political level. [in Spanish] Then, in 2019, a muxe appeared on the cover of British and Mexican Vogue, breaking boundaries in order to demonstrate their rejection of heteronormativity.
However, los muxes continue to face challenges and stigma. In 2019, Oscar Cazorla, a muxe activist who campaigned for sexual diversity and LGBTQIA+ acceptance, was murdered in what many suspect was a hate crime, and to this day no one has been charged with their murder. Many believe that the police did not investigate the crime thoroughly enough and that their gender may have played a role in the lack of police action. [in Spanish]
It is difficult to predict the future of the muxe movement. Many muxes campaign against sexual stigmas and for better HIV and AIDS education. [in Spanish] More recently, on the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, they promoted the creation of "Municipal Councils against Discrimination" [in Spanish] whose main focus is respect for human rights and the implementation of public policies aimed at an inclusive society. Although full understanding and acceptance for the muxes and the LGBTQIA+ community in Mexico has not yet arrived, and could still be a long way off, the muxes continue to resist and actively disrupt the colonial gender binary.
Alice is a recent German & Hispanic studies graduate from Queen Mary University of London, specialising in literature during dictatorships. Her aspiration is to move to Mexico permanently to teach English and get involved with social justice activism, hopefully returning to the city of Guadalajara where she studied for a semester.