Modern society has drastically changed over the centuries, and compared to the old times, it is now much more liberated, democratic, and accepting. However, there are still issues that require special attention and cause many debates over their existence, such as homosexuality. The attitude towards people belonging to the LGBTQ community differs depending on the culture and the place. The Mexican culture, particularly Junchitan city, is the main object of observation for the paper. It aims to identify the societal reactions and perceptions of homosexuality in a particular region and analyze the social position of the homosexual people within it.
Mexica has a dual attitude towards people from the LGBTQ community and homosexuality precisely. For instance, in Juchitan, the population celebrates and cherishes “muxes,” which is a word for people who were born male but dressed and acted like women (Milian, 2017). However, they differ from transgender because muxe is more about cross-dressing than the people who identify themselves with the gender other from birth. It is a blessing for a family to have a muxe because they cannot have children and cannot get legally married, so they stay in a family and work primarily selling handicrafts in the markets (Milian, 2017). They are also expected to bring diversity and artistry to society through their performance and unique looks. Also, their romantic and sexual relationship with a heterosexual man is a common and widely approved practice. Thus, in the Mexican culture, homosexuality in some way is accepted, but with specific remarks and clarifications.
Since it is only partially considered acceptable behavior, it cannot be fully approved, and homosexual people experience several forms of oppression. They cannot get married, use public bathrooms according to the gender they identify themselves, and muxes cannot fully transition to the sex different from which they were born. Those are only several examples of the obstacles that homosexual people experience despite some recognition from society. In reality, most of the population and the government are conservatives that promote traditional family values and perceive homosexuality and any manifestations of it as a temporary phase or some entertainment.
They approve of it as long as man can change their clothes from female to male at any time and do not fully transition. The relationships with heterosexual men are considered a temporary replacement for women until the men decide to find a wife and build a family one day (Milian, 2017). It seems that Mexican society only tolerates homosexual people but does not truly accept them. As long as they serve the needs of the heterosexual population, they are convenient and entertaining, but in reality, there is not much done to promote and reinforce their rights and freedom. When homosexual people try to enter a serious relationship, identify themselves with different gender, transition to the other sex, and many other aspects, society meets it with negativity and judgment. All those acts are considered radical and are not welcomed among heterosexual people. The main point is that homosexual persons are only accepted when they try to fit into the traditional female role and act like regular women.
Overall, Mexican society tolerates homosexual people, but they remain unrepresented. There are several limitations for representers of the LGBTQ community, such as the illegality of same-sex marriages, disapproval of the simple self-representation, and lack of support from the government. Society accepts homosexual people to perform certain duties and tasks by working in a family business, taking care of older parents, and serving as replacements of women for single heterosexual men. Since society is still mainly conservative, they do not provide homosexual persons with protection, equal rights, or acceptance of their social and personal needs. The attitude towards them remains unserious and rather superficial without actual involvement in the lives and well-being of minorities.
Reference
Milian, K. (2017). In this Mexican city, trans people are celebrated. So why do they feel so left out? Narratively. Web.