Oaxaca was painted in rainbow

@1tm122n22m Atma Unum

Memorial of the March for Plurality, Pride, and Art in Oaxaca. Let’s celebrate diversity and love in all its forms. #LGBTQI+ #AtmaUnum #PrideMarch 🌈 https://wp.me/p3JLEZ-7GH

We reproduce the following article mentioning an artivism project for diversity led by Master Ra’al Ki Victorieux (Drag Queen June Goldstar / Drag Queen June Iris México, director of Tripping Butterflies). It was published in the written press in Oaxaca. And includes the first LGBTQI+ march in Oaxaca in 2006. This documentation is part of the process of digitizing the newspaper archives of Atma Unum.

Oaxaca was painted rainbow

Discrimination against different people persists

Oaxaca residents were amazed yesterday by a unique march composed of men and women with different sexual preferences. The flag of sexual plurality, which bears the colors of the rainbow, waved to demand respect for their rights.

“If there is no political freedom, there is no sexual freedom!” exclaimed men and women with different preferences: heterosexuals, homosexuals, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, travesties, and transgender people.

Butterflies, lions, platform shoes, wigs, and other “outfits” caught the attention of onlookers, some with morbid curiosity, as they gazed at the participants of this sui generis walk.

Political issues also surfaced when someone shouted: “Madrazo, understand, the queens don’t want you!”

The procession began on Avenida Juárez, in front of El Llano park. Gradually, participants started to arrive, including families and young people who joined to express their support for the right to choose and exercise sexuality freely.

And it wasn’t just about shouting slogans and dancing or singing; they also promoted safe sex by distributing condoms among passersby, as did the organization vinii gaxheé (different people).

The main streets of the city were painted in multicolor.

“The March for Plurality, Pride, and Art, organized by Tripping Butterflies, is held because we consider it essential that expression takes to the streets, that we manifest once again that we are all, regardless of our sexual orientation, free human beings entitled to respect and healthy coexistence in our families, schools, workplaces, and social circles,” said Drag Queen June Iris México.

She explained that this march in Oaxaca seeks to be a space where organizations, artists, and the public can gather in celebration of pride, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender art, and, in general, all sexual orientations.

“For this reason, we invite all forms of expression, both sexual and artistic, to march with us. In a society like ours, the degree of advancement of democracy is measured, among other things, by the degree of respect for the right to diversity: an inalienable human right,” Iris expressed in her butterfly outfit.

“As full members of society, we reclaim the right to the public expression of our varied sexual, erotic, and affectionate identities. These identities are the instrument of our deep integration,” she stated.

It is noteworthy that at all times the demonstration was videographed, as it will form part of the short film “Always in June.”

In the evening, at a party, they presented the “Queen Butterflies,” which consist of awards for merit in the struggle for plurality.

Original publication:

• Rivas, Silvia Chavela. Photos: Velasco, Hugo / Orlinsky, Katie. (Sunday, June 4, 2006) Oaxaca was painted rainbow. Discrimination against different people persists. Noticias. Oaxaca. pp. Front page and El Centro 3A.

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