Thousands of people marched in Mexico City to demand justice for Jesús Ociel Baena, an LGBTQ+ figure found dead at home after receiving death threats. Baena, an openly nonbinary magistrate, broke barriers in a country where LGBTQ+ individuals often face violence. The deaths are being investigated as potential homicides. PBS NewsHour reported
Thousands Rally in Mexico City Demanding Justice for LGBTQ+ Advocate Found Dead
A massive demonstration took place in Mexico City on Monday evening as thousands of people marched to demand justice for Jesús Ociel Baena, a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community who was found dead at home in the city of Aguascalientes after receiving death threats. Baena, who was the first openly nonbinary person to hold a judicial position in Mexico, served as a magistrate in the state electoral court of Aguascalientes. Their groundbreaking achievements shattered barriers in a country where LGBTQ+ individuals are often subjected to violence.
The state prosecutor’s office confirmed that Baena was discovered dead on Monday morning alongside another individual, identified by local media and LGBTQ+ rights groups as Baena’s partner, Dorian Herrera. Both individuals displayed injuries consistent with those caused by a knife or another sharp object, according to state prosecutor Jesús Figueroa Ortega. He also stated that there were no signs indicating the presence of a third person at the crime scene.
The suggestion that the deaths could be the result of suicide quickly sparked outrage, with LGBTQ+ groups condemning it as another attempt by authorities to dismiss violence against their communities. Those who knew Baena described them as joyful and optimistic about the future in recent weeks.
Federal Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez stated during a briefing that authorities were still investigating the deaths and had not yet determined whether they were homicides or accidents. It is not uncommon for homicides in Mexico to be quickly downplayed by authorities as crimes of passion.
Alejandro Brito, the director of the LGBTQ+ rights group Letra S, emphasized that Baena’s visibility on social media made them a target and urged authorities to consider this in their investigation. Baena had received numerous hate messages and threats of violence and death, making it impossible to ignore these factors in the investigation, according to Brito. Baena was seen as breaking barriers and advocating for the nonbinary community.
Thousands of people gathered in the heart of Mexico City to pay tribute to Baena and other victims of anti-LGBTQ+ violence. They lit candles and chanted slogans such as “Justice” and “We won’t stay silent,” demanding a thorough investigation into the deaths.
Among the protesters was Nish López, who publicly identified as nonbinary in March, partly inspired by Baena. López stated that they admired Baena because they were unapologetically themselves and actively worked to bring about change regardless of their gender identity.
Baena made history in October 2022 as the first nonbinary person in Latin America to hold a judicial position. In May of the same year, Baena was among the first individuals in Mexico to receive a passport listing their gender as nonbinary. Baena’s photos and videos, often featuring them wearing skirts and heels and proudly displaying a rainbow fan, gained them a significant following on social media.
Despite progress in reducing anti-LGBTQ+ violence in Mexico, Letra S documented at least 117 cases of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals being murdered. Many of these killings were particularly brutal, involving stabbings or public executions.
The National Observatory of Hate Crimes Against LGBTI+ Persons in Mexico recorded 305 hate crimes targeting sexual minorities between 2019 and 2022, including cases of murder and disappearances.
Brito expressed concern that Baena’s death could incite further violence against the LGBTQ+ community. He emphasized that such crimes, motivated by prejudice, always carry a message meant to intimidate and warn others against publicly expressing their identities.
However, for López, the overwhelming emotion was not fear but anger. They joined the throngs of people marching in Mexico City wearing heels, determined to carry on Baena’s legacy and make themselves visible in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights..