Seven out of 10 LGBTQ+ people who participated in a national poll reported suffering discrimination. The National Council to Prevent Discrimination, a Mexican government agency, found that the country ranked second in Latin America from 2008-20 in total hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people, behind only Brazil. The advocacy group Letra Ese reported last year that 117 LGBTQ+ people were murdered in Mexico because of their sexuality or gender identity in 2019.
For many gay men, it's the last word they hear before they're attacked, or killed." "It has a nasty, homophobic connotation in any sense. "The word means the same everywhere ," said Enrique Torre Molina, a Mexican activist and co-founder of Colmena 41, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ visibility. LGBTQ+ advocates say intent is irrelevant, especially within a country where hate crimes against the marginalized continue to grow at an alarming rate. I think it's pathetic for them on one hand to have a World Cup in Qatar and on the other, sanction Mexico for a chant they perceive as discriminatory." is riding the wave of political correctness. "Clearly, people aren't chanting at goalkeepers and attacking them for thinking they're gay. "Context and connotation is important," said Valeria Moulinie, a 33-year-old Tri fan from the Mexico City suburb of Naucalpan. What's more, the perceived hypocrisy of FIFA policing the behavior of Mexico fans in the stands but remaining silent on laws oppressive to LGBTQ+ communities in Russia and Qatar - the most recent World Cup host and the next in line, respectively - has also fueled resistance. In resisting to cease and desist over the years, fans have argued that the chant is a part of Mexico's sports culture, and that it bears no anti-gay bent when used in stadiums. Neither De Luisa's appeal nor the stadium bans are likely to curb the chant outright. "When people are using homophobic language, whether it's intentional or not, it can be very detrimental."
"Soccer itself is a medium for change, and we need to recognize how impactful language can be," said Janelly Farias, a defender on Mexico's women's national team who is gay. The FMF boss uttered the slur while condemning its use among fans. It's not."ĭe Luisa's conference itself served as an example of the disconnect that exists regarding the slur's usage in parts of Mexican culture. "To those who think it's fun to, I have news for you. "The chant is discriminatory and is moving us away from FIFA competitions," Mexican federation president Yon de Luisa said in response during a news conference. The FMF has embarked on an all-out media campaign against the chant since FIFA's disciplinary committee announced the latest sanctions June 18 because of a recurrence of the behavior during CONCACAF pre-Olympic qualifying in the spring. will solicit potentially dire consequences such as a ban from next year's World Cup in Qatar. Yet in the aftermath of receiving the most significant sanctions to date - two official home games behind closed doors - the federation is fearful that defiant Mexico followers at this month's CONCACAF Gold Cup in the U.S. It has been fined 15 times since the 2014 World Cup because of the chant. In Mexico, it is a vulgar insult synonymous with cowardice when directed at another person and is considered offensive toward the LGBTQ+ community.Īs the overseer of the country's national teams, the Mexican federation (FMF) had ignored this behavior even in the face of FIFA punishment. The word has various definitions, among them "male prostitute" or "sodomite," depending on the cultural context. have incorporated an anti-gay slur into a chant aimed at opposing goalkeepers. So it is jarring to consider that fan allegiance to a controversial stadium tradition could ban El Tri from next year's World Cup and strip Mexico of co-hosting duties in 2026.įor about two decades, some El Tri fans gathered in packed stadiums in Mexico and the U.S. The Mexican men's national team can make a case that it is the most popular soccer team in two countries. How allegiance to an anti-gay fan chant at Mexico soccer games might sink El Tri's World Cup fortunes
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