Benjamin Medrano Quezada is the first openly gay mayor in all of Mexico, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be pushing for marriage equality any time soon.
“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,” the 47-year-old gay bar owner told the AP. “Not yet, anyway, because we have strong roots in our religion, and in our customs.”
Medrano is the mayor of Fresnillo, part of the state of Zacatecas, where, he says, “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.”
Fresnillo and the surrounding area have been plagued by gang violence as hacked up and decapitated bodies have turned up in an ongoing drug turf war. So how, then, did an openly gay mayor get elected?
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Well, Medrano ran on a public safety reform platform, calling for cooperation with state and federal police as well as routine vetting of the notoriously unscrupulous local police force. Oh, and he’s also got the voice. Of. An. Angel.
In addition to owning a gay bar for the better part of two decades, Medrano is a singer and, according to the AP, “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. He also distanced himself from gay rights in his campaign and, as a Roman Catholic, does not want to go against the church. While some may call him an Uncle Tom, or an Uncle Arthur, for shying away from gay politics, Medrano is critical of closeted politicians and “very proud” to be the first openly gay mayor in the country.
He’s also got the backing of one of Mexico’s foremost gay rights advocacy groups, Letra “S”, which sees Medrano’s victory as a sign of the times. “This shows that our human rights system is providing some protection,” director Alejandro 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,” Brito added, “than it is to be a homosexual candidate.”
2eo
Wherever religion is strong society suffers.
Mr. E. Jones
He also distanced himself from gay rights in his campaign and, as a Roman Catholic, does not want to go against the church…Medrano is critical of closeted politicians and “very proud” to be the first openly gay mayor in the country.
So he’s openly, and actively gay, yet says he doesn’t want to go against the church on equal marriage?
2eo
@Mr. E. Jones: There are gay people in the GOP, and gay MP’s who were against the Equality bill here in the UK.
These Uncle Tom’s are among the most devastating weapons they can still wield.
MK Ultra
My Spanish isn’t too good, but this guy is a puta.
Gordon
Almost like having one foot in the boat and the other one on the pier! At some point, you’re gonna go into the water and get soaked!
Jay Sheckley
that’s what he had to say to get elected- that he wont “push” marriage equality cuz theyre not ready. ::sigh:: he’s only a mayor
CalgaryBill
I understand what he’s saying and I do sympathize. As long as he still supports taking small steps, it’s probably all that can be expected. It doesn’t sound like the local gays dare be too loud in the area.
D9W
Just call him Mayor Uncle Down Low. Because that’s what he’s doing.
Alberto
Im from Mexico, and believe me, this IS revolutionary.
Maybe he still doesn’t support gay marriage(yet), but that is because Mexico is still trying to fully accept the gay rights, and is happening in a very subtle and slow but firm way.
And forcing the people to approve gay marriage now would be counterproductive because there is still many traditionalism and superstition.
But the simple fact that he’s openly gay in a political position is groundbreaking.
Besides, the great focus in this moment for the nation is the great crime and violence by narcotrafic and corruption, is very hard, for both hetero and homosexual people.
So his presence is a spark of positiveness, and , gay marriage is legal in ALL states,(although you only can get married in the capital of DF but, otherwise, the marriage is recognized across the country) so isn’t that bad, and with time, it will get better.This is a move in the right direction.
Alberto
@Alberto: and forgive my english. Isn’t as polish as i would like.
Jay Sheckley
@Alberto: you write: “his presence is a spark of positiveness, and gay marriage is legal in ALL states,(you only can get married in the capital of DF but, the marriage is recognized across the country) so isn’t that bad, and will get better…a move in the right direction.” YAY! Gays have it better there than i the USA im proud of him being an openly gay mayor in mexico.
MikeE
Will Queerty’s writers one day learn how to conjugate verbs properly?
he “sung” his way to victory?
Snapper59
@MikeE:
“he “sung” his way to victory?”
OK OK, he sanged his way there.
And the answer to your question is a hopeful “No”.
BJ McFrisky
As a gay Libertarian, I’ve learned first-hand that if you’re gay and don’t rabidly support every gay issue (like marriage), then you’re a traitor and an Uncle Tom and must be silenced. I don’t know how Mayor Medrano’s fellow gay Mexicans treat him, but I hope it’s not the same attitude here that if you don’t toe the liberal line, you’re considered an enemy to the cause.
MikeE
@BJ McFrisky: You’re not a libertarian. You’re just a republican in a rainbow shirt.
not supporting equality has nothing to do with “not toeing the liberal line”.
he against marriage equality. he is against.. equality.
see how it works?
he’s an uncle tom.
sort of like you.
2eo
@MikeE: BJ isn’t a member of our community at all, he’s a paid troll. He also funds the legal defense of paedophiles.
Tell them about the money BJ, they want to know.
BJ McFrisky
@2eo: Your bizarre fantasies about pedophilia are always on display here. Care to explain?
gppm1103
What an idiot. He “doesn’t want to go against” the Roman Catholic Church.
Honey, you being openly gay means you already are going against the church…..unless you are not having ANY sex.
brent
@2eo: Right, it was a huge mistake to name a holiday after the Rev. Martin Luther King. Clear violation of church and state
brent
@D9W: Down Low is when you are in the closet This guy owns a gay bar, so he is not in the closet
D9W
@Brent, you don’t think you can be out of the closet and still have sex with married men? Whole down low means to me is your keeping secrets, sure you might be out to the world that you like men, but you keep quite with who your having sex with. The whole idea about marriage is you pronounce to the world who that other person is, and your no longer on the market or playing stag. He’s against that.