BajaNomad

Mexico's 1st gay mayor elected in rough northern state known for machismo, drug violence

Gypsy Jan - 7-20-2013 at 10:14 AM

From The AP

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's first openly gay elected mayor is set to take office in a rough part of Zacatecas state known for cowboy boots, embossed belts and drug gang shootouts.

Benjamin Medrano, a 47-year-old singer and gay bar-owner, says he is proud to be openly gay and rights groups say his victory in the city of Fresnillo's July 7 election marks a significant point in the fight for gay rights.

They add that it is too early yet to declare victory and Medrano, who takes office in September, acknowledges that he was the target of a malicious phone-calling campaign in which his political rivals "tried to smear me, as if being gay were a crime."

Zacatecas is a largely rural state with a reputation for cowboy hats and macho swagger, one of last places in Mexico that seemed likely to elect a gay mayor.

"Somewhat? Very machisto, I would say," Medrano says of his region. "I am going to be mayor of a township (roughly equivalent to a U.S. county) where there are 258 villages full of tough country people, who don't necessarily have much information on what's happening elsewhere, and have even less of an automatic sympathy with their gay mayor."

"But," he notes," It's not like I'm going to paint city hall pink, either."

While some top Mexican legislators and mayors have been rumored to be gay, none has ever come out.

"He is the first," said Alejandro Brito, director of "Letra S," one of Mexico's foremost gay rights groups. "There have been city officials and city council members, but openly gay mayors? No."

He noted some gay legislators have won seats in congress, but not by winning any district race; rather, they won their seats through a proportional-representation scheme in which political parties designate them.

"This shows that our human rights system is providing some protection," Brito said. "Because, even though there is no public majority in favor of electing gay politicians, he (Medrano) knows that the legal framework will protect him."

"It is now more risky for a political rival to be openly homophobic, than it is to be a homosexual candidate," Brito said.

In recent years, a drug turf war has raged around Fresnillo, and bodies have been found hacked to bits, others with their throats slit, some decapitated, some stuffed in wells or shallow graves. Medrano campaigned on a strong public-safety platform, advocating cooperation with state and federal police, and vetting and background checks on the notoriously corrupt local police force.

"I'm not at risk, because I don't have any relationship with any of the groups," Medrano said Thursday, referring to the two drug cartels - the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel - that are fighting for control of Fresnillo, a city of 230,000 that has the misfortune to sit on some of the main trafficking routes in northern Mexico.

"Of course, I have the same fear that anybody who lives in Fresnillo has," Medrano said.

Several factors help explain his victory in this machista region.

First is that Medrano is a singer, and the owner of a gay bar for 18 years. Singing is one of the areas where Mexico has readily accepted gays.

"Given that I'm a singer, people know that aspect of me," Medrano said.

The other factor is the way Medrano handles the political aspects of gay issues.

He has attended gay rights marches, but he doesn't campaign on gay rights, and in fact doesn't agree with many of the movement's main demands.

A Roman Catholic, he says "I wish the church had a different view, but I cannot go against doctrine ... I respect my church, and I don't want to dig any deeper beyond what's permitted and what is appropriate."

"I'm not in favor of gay marriage, I don't share that view, because we are still very small town ... in short, we're not prepared, in my view," he said. "Not yet, anyway, because we have strong roots in our religion, and in our customs."

But he criticizes gay politicians who refuse to come out, saying he's "very proud to be the first openly gay mayor in this country."

Marc - 7-20-2013 at 12:17 PM

A Gay Caballero.

DENNIS - 7-20-2013 at 12:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
From The AP

Mexico's 1st gay mayor




Now....how would they know that? :?:

Bubba - 7-20-2013 at 03:23 PM

This could get sketchy.

willardguy - 7-20-2013 at 04:05 PM

his rosarito campaign headquarters? ;)

Bajahowodd - 7-20-2013 at 04:59 PM

For whatever the reason, gay rights have made extraordinary strides in just the past few years in the US.

However, among the most vociferous opponents have been the Christian fundamentalists and the Catholics. Given Mexico's huge majority of Catholics, I'm not sure this will end well.

Of course, I should also mention the Muslim opposition to gays.

Never been able to fathom why it is that people conducting their private lives, in private, are such a threat to others.
:wow::wow::wow::wow:

On the Upside

MrBillM - 7-20-2013 at 08:44 PM

There's a Politician you don't want to turn your back on.

DENNIS - 7-21-2013 at 07:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd


Never been able to fathom why it is that people conducting their private lives, in private, are such a threat to others.
:wow::wow::wow::wow:



It's because they feel, in God's eyes, there are no private lives.

J.P. - 7-21-2013 at 07:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
For whatever the reason, gay rights have made extraordinary strides in just the past few years in the US.

However, among the most vociferous opponents have been the Christian fundamentalists and the Catholics. Given Mexico's huge majority of Catholics, I'm not sure this will end well.

Of course, I should also mention the Muslim opposition to gays.

Never been able to fathom why it is that people conducting their private lives, in private, are such a threat to others.
:wow::wow::wow::wow:






I don't have a problem with them conducting their life in private. I do have a problem with being Force fed their private life via the news media.

vgabndo - 7-21-2013 at 08:46 AM

"I don't have a problem with them conducting their life in private. I do have a problem with being Force fed their private life via the news media."

If you just add the Government to that comment, you may be able to understand how millions of Americans feel about being FORCE FED "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "ONE NATION UNDER GOD". (both of which violate our Constitutional rights.)

Remember the American Christian hierarchy of hate. On the bottom of the list are Muslims, gays, child molesters and atheists.

Where is all that love you find in Luke 19-27????

Cheese and rice, I missed church sitting here typing. :coolup:

DENNIS - 7-21-2013 at 09:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
his rosarito campaign headquarters? ;)




"Hedrosexual" ?????? WTF is that?




.

Phil C - 7-21-2013 at 11:48 AM

Maybe they left out an A..........

DENNIS - 7-21-2013 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Phil C
Maybe they left out an A..........



You mean as in HEAD? Maybe so. Other than that, it would still be misspelled. HETEROSEXUAL

Bajahowodd - 7-21-2013 at 05:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by J.P.
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
For whatever the reason, gay rights have made extraordinary strides in just the past few years in the US.

However, among the most vociferous opponents have been the Christian fundamentalists and the Catholics. Given Mexico's huge majority of Catholics, I'm not sure this will end well.

Of course, I should also mention the Muslim opposition to gays.

Never been able to fathom why it is that people conducting their private lives, in private, are such a threat to others.
:wow::wow::wow::wow:






I don't have a problem with them conducting their life in private. I do have a problem with being Force fed their private life via the news media.


Just what are you being force fed? Something like equal rights? Fact is that although because of closeted gays, statistics have been unreliable, but reliable source opine that thoughout the course of history, the percentage of humans who are agy or have latent tendencies is around 25%

Reliable Sources

MrBillM - 7-21-2013 at 06:10 PM

Estimating anything without statistical evidence are known as:

Guessers.

What makes them reliable to another is whether or not their guesses agree with your guesses.

redhilltown - 7-22-2013 at 12:35 AM

How in the hell can you be "force fed" something you don't have to read, watch, or hear if you don't want to???

Not a single bit of yammering gibberish from Sean Hannity's mouth have I ever listened to unless I chose to...

Offered as an example.

Bajahowodd - 7-22-2013 at 04:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Estimating anything without statistical evidence are known as:

Guessers.

What makes them reliable to another is whether or not their guesses agree with your guesses.


Please continue to pontificate from within your singlewide desert tin can.

Positive Pontification Perpetuation

MrBillM - 7-22-2013 at 07:52 PM

Assured.

Barring the Big One.

And, unlike some, I don't base conclusions on Illusionary "reliable sources" sans FACTS.

Which seems to be common for those to the Left.