Shirlei Vazquez, a 27-year-old trans woman from Guatemala, fled her home after being assaulted and threatened because of her sexual orientation. She joined the growing number of LGBTQ migrants heading north to the United States in search of a better life.
In Mexico, these migrants have found a safe space at shelters that welcome individuals facing added stigma or violence due to their
sexual orientation or identity. The Rainbow House in Tijuana is one such shelter where Vazquez now resides.”I had two options: die in my country or leave to find safety,” Vazquez said in an interview with AFP from the shelter.
UN Women recently warned that LGBTQ migrants face higher risks of physical and sexual violence, including unsafe shelters, lack of access to healthcare, and discrimination by border agents. Casa Frida, a shelter in Mexico City, offers legal, psychological, social, and medical support, as well as food aid and housing.”Casa Frida is a safe space.
A place of freedom for certain people, for those to be able to express who they really are,” said Angelica Guzman, a 24-year-old lawyer who works at the shelter.
The shelter, which opened in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, has since expanded to Tapachula and Monterrey. For many LGBTQ migrants like Victoria Davila, a 23-year-old trans woman from Venezuela, the shelter provides a sense of belonging and validation.”To migrate is to decide to recreate another life somewhere else,” Davila said.
“The decision to leave my home and family took all the courage in the world.”Davila, who has been at the shelter for two months, had experienced similar dangers in Mexico as she did back home. However, at Casa Frida, she found a sense of community and support.”
I have to show who I am and that I exist, and anyone who doesn’t like it should look the other way,” Davila said.
Sandy Montoya, a 23-year-old trans woman from Honduras, blames authorities in conservative Central American societies for allowing discrimination against trans people. She plans to apply for humanitarian asylum in the United States after arriving at her shelter in May.
Davila, on the other hand, has decided to stay in Mexico City due to the openness of the LGBT community. She has found work as a drag artist and appreciates the welcoming atmosphere in the city’s drag scene.”The drag scene in Mexico City is great and very welcoming,” Davila said.
These shelters provide a beacon of hope for LGBTQ migrants facing persecution and violence in their home countries. By offering a safe space, they enable individuals like Vazquez, Davila, and Montoya to rebuild their lives and find acceptance in a world that often rejects them.
Source: France24
