Running Head: Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 1

Struggles of LGBTQ Individuals in the Mexican American Community

ETHS 2430

Joshua Butler

Salt lake Community College

A main topic in the media today around the world is the rights of those in the LGBTQ

community. Marriage equality, adoption rights, transgender serving in the military are a few of
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those topics. Another main topic in the media today is immigration, a border wall, and the rights

of those in the Mexican American population. With talking about one person's rights over

another person's rights the media tend to forget that within these topics are those that are part of

both the LGBTQ community, and are part of the Mexican American community. These Mexican

American LGBTQ members are considered to be a part of a intersectionality where

discrimination interacts, and overlaps each other.

LGBTQ is an acronym for anyone who identifyes themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,

Transgender, or Queer. Queer is considered a derogatory term or a term used negatively. Like

many words, it depends on the context, but in the LGBTQ community it is used academically as

anything that goes against the social norm, or is unusual. Queer is used as an umbrella term to

help those who are unable to identify, or don't want to label themselves. The LGBTQ community

is anyone who identifies themselves as one of these terms or feels like the don't fit into the

Heteronormative. Heteronormative is defined as a worldview that everyone promotes

heterosexuality or attraction between opposite sexes as the normal or preferred sexual

orientation.

The LGBTQ community is mainly made up of individuals that are attracted to those of

the same sex, and would be considered homosexuals. In many cultures and religions,

homosexuality is considered to be an act against nature, or an act against God and considered a

sin.

Homosexuality is used as an excuse to segregate and discriminate against individuals,

and take away basic human rights. Despite the fact that it is now legal for same sex couples to

get married there is still discrimination in the workplace, health care, family, and in the military.
Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 3

Here are some of the shocking statistics the LGBTQ community deal with today.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, four in ten LGBTQ youth, say that community in

which they live is not accepting of LGBTQ people. Ninety percent of LGBTQ youth say they

hear negative messages about being LGBTQ. The top sources are school, the internet and their

peers. Sixty eight percent of LGBTQ youth say they hear negative messages about being

LGBTQ from elcted leaders (Campaign, H. R.).

Within the LGBTQ community, there are several sub communities. Mexican American

youth struggle to find their place in both the Mexican American and LGBTQ communities.

Latino and Latina Members of the LGBTQ community have invented a term called Latinx to

represent a gender neutral term to be referred to. Many Latinx that are also Mexican American

have issues and problems that increase because of gender roles, and family values in their

communities. Family is one of the most important and influential part of Mexican American

culture. Gender roles play a huge role in the Mexican American Culture. Traditionally many

Mexican American families are governed by a patriarchal family structure enforcing gender

roles. Within in these gender roles every family member had a defined role, and expectations to

contribute to the family. The father was considered head of the household, expected to organize,

protect, make decisions, and provide for the family. The fathers decisions were final, and hardly

ever questioned. This type of gender role has lead to a male entitlement called Machismo in

mexican culture.

Machismo can be described as macho, manly, aggressive, arrogant. It is portrayed on tv,

movies, and in the media as a macho latino attitude(Villegas 2017). The mother is the center and

life blood of the family. Her role is to take care of the family by cooking, cleaning, and raising

the children of the family. Traditionally the mother's role was to take care of the family full time,
Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 4

and to follow the head of the household with no question. The children's role was to go to school

and based on gender either help the mother take care of the family, or help provide for the

family.

The Mexican American culture revolves around the importance of family. Extended

family, aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends are considered family and creates a close knit

community (Garcia 2015). Catholicism is another major influential part of Mexican American

culture according to a recent new research study, sixty eight percent of the Mexican American

population is Catholic. Many in the Catholic religon consider homosexulity to be an act against

God, an abomination, and a sin. While the members of this religion feel this way the leaders of

the religion feel that it's only a sin if you act upon it having the feelings is not a sin

(Homosexuality 2014).

With strong religious and family values it can be very difficult for the youth of the

LGBTQ community that are latino and latina to be themselves. Within the tangles of the strong

gender roles in the Mexican American family, strong religious influences it can be very difficult

to navigate life in a LGBTQ community. Coming out is a term used by the LGBTQ community

to describe the process of telling friends and loved ones that you identify as Lesbian, Gay,

Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer. Coming out can be an empowering and comforting part of

growing up. It can also be a devastating nightmare with rejection, abuse, and disappointment.

Latino and Latina youth face struggles that other members of th LGBTQ community do

not. One of the Struggles is a language issue, it's hard to find words in spanish that don't have a

negative connitation towards LGBTQ(Campaign Language).

Another struggle is religion, catholicism is ingrained in many of the members of the

Mexican American Community.The views of Catholicism towards Homosexuality gives power

Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 5

to Discriminate to reject those who identify as homosexual. Youth trying to come out to parents

influenced by catholicism could end with rejection because it is a sin against god. The biggest

struggle that latinos and latinas in the LGBTQ deal with is not being able to live up to family

roles and gender roles.

Family is considered a unit and the roles of the members of the family help protect and

provide for the family as a whole. A male who considers himself gay or transgender might want

to cook and clean which is a female role in the family. A female who considers herself lesbian or

transgender might not want to cook or clean but instead work on cars things or other things that

would be considered the males responsibilities. In our world today gender roles are becoming

less important and we are becoming more versatile. In the Mexican American community gender

roles still exist because of a generation that still sticks to the traditional roles from mexico.

Coming out to your family and being honest with yourself and your loved ones is an

important step in forming a self identity.Many Latino and Latina LGBTQ would rather not come

out to their families not only because of the shame that it will bring to themselves, but also to

their family name in the Mexican American community. The Community is very close and

usually when somebody succeeds the whole community feels like they succeed.

LGBTQ members feel that if they do come out they will be the only ones in their

community and therefore a target for approval or disapproval. This usually leads youth to either

hiding their true self from their close friends and families or not coming out at all. They feel like

they have to choose between being themselves and being who their families want them to be. For

those youth that do come out to their families they face certain reactions that can be positive or

negative.
Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 6

The family can be very supportive and embrace who their child is and accept them. They

can ask questions, gain more information, and teach others in the community becoming an ally

for their child.The opposite can also happen and the families of those youth can have a negative

reaction to the news. Some of the negative reactions can be disowning family members, kicking

youth out of the house leaving them homeless, and in worst cases physical abuse. According to

report done by The Williams Institute of the homeless population in america ten percent of that

population is youth. Of that youth forty percent of those individuals identify as LGBTQ. Those

individuals also state that family rejection and abuse where the two major factors for contributing

to their homelessness(Writers 2012). Families of the Mexican American Community like to deal

with problems for themselves instead of reaching out for help. This leads to a lack of knowledge

and resources to help deal with a loved one coming out.

The youth are not the only LGBTQ struggling in the Mexican American community.

Immigration is a huge hotspot in the media today and although the media talks about

discrimination, deportation and a wall you rarely hear anything about what's happening with

LGBTQ immigrants.

Immigrants that identify themselves with the lgbtq community are subject to

unimaginable things while being detained by US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement or

ICE. Such things include being detained for years with no cause, rape and sexual assault, abuse

by guards as well as inmates, and transwomen to be kept detained in male cells. Many LGBTQ

immigrants came to the United States to get away from discrimination in Mexico and have been

discriminated here in the US making them feel like there is nowhere safe in the world (Rinaldi

2016). All of the negative coverage of the LGBTQ community, and the Mexican American

Community can make anyone who is a part of them feel discouraged and fearful.
Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 7

So how can anyone help those in these communities feel safe and change the views of

how these communities are being represented. The most important is learning more and gaining

knowledge. There are plenty of websites and brochures online in both english and in spanish.

Places in your local community also have support groups and brochures to help with

those that need support or don't have internet to gain knowledge. Some helpful organizations that

have support centers in local cities everywhere are; The GLBT National Help Center, Human

rights Campaign, Parnts, family and frinds of Lesbaians and Gays or PFLAG. All of these

organizations have Latino support groups that specialize and help those individuals of the

Mexican American Community.

Along with these major organizations there are plenty of local groups that also help in

aiding with the the LGBTQ youth. One of these local groups are Homeless shelters that are

specifically designed to help with the LGBTQ youth. Another great local resource are colllege

support groups and clubs that help those that are LGBTQ and thier allies.

Talking about it,being in a support group, being a part of a group will all help youth

coming out to feel comfortable being themselves and have a support group of people who have

been in the same situation as them and can give them advice. Youth need positive reinforcement

and having the experience of others will help them with their own confidence self awareness. It's

important for youth to feel like they belong and that they are a part of something greater and they

do belong. In Salt Lake City Utah there is a local organization called the Utah Pride Center that

helps in aiding with members of the LGBTQ community. One of their biggest focus is on the

south in the community.

I had the opportunity to interview Yolanda Espinoza a youth and volunteer coordinator at

the center. In the interview she explained to me what it was like growing up a second generation
Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 8

Mexican American that also identified as a Lesbian. She was scared to come out to her parents

because of their families strong religious background. She came out to her older brother when

she was a sophomore in High school. Her brother advised her not to tell her parents because they

would not understand.

She explained that at the time her parents and her older brother were both undocumented

and her two younger siblings were both citizens. After high school she met her now wife at

college and after dating for a few months went and told her parents. Her parents were thrilled and

very supportive. Her grandmother was the one that was not ok with it and did not want anything

to do with her. It hurt her very deeply and she still feels like there is a hole in her life.

She explained her struggles with keeping a job and her frustration with her not able to get

married and get citizenship because it was illegal to get married to a woman.

Everything worked out and is now married to her wife happily. She now dedicates her time to

help support those of the LGBTQ community and specifically the Latino youth. She described

the first time that she volunteered at the center and helped make breakfast for the homeless youth

as a heartbreaking and life changing moment. She had stories upon stories of youth that had been

kicked out, disowned, abused and beaten to the point of them running away in fear for their lives.

In response to how can people help she answered that centers are always looking for volunteers

or donations. The true way people can help is to be accepting and loving of everyone. We need

to start showing the youth of today that bing LGBTQ is ok and not a illness or a choice.

If you know anyone who is struggling with a friend or family member point them to the correct

information and tell them to seek help. Yolandas advice to be an example and accept those of

the LGBTQ community and stop letting the media say that it is not ok is a one to take to heart.

We are a generation of adaptation and innovation. It's important that the youth are proud of their
Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 9

heritage but to not let it define them. All members of the LGBTQ community should have the

right to be themselves and to feel safe. The struggles of Members of the LGBTQ community and

members of the Mexican American community should be adressd and should bring the two

communities closer together not tear them apart. Let's stop the discrimination of both

communities and come together to help each other out.

Bibliography

Campaign, H. R. (n.d.). Growing Up LGBT in America: View and Share Statistics. Retrieved

July 28, 2017, from http://www.hrc.org/youth-report/view-and-share-statistics

Campaign, H. R. (n.d.). Language and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos. Retrieved

July 29, 2017, from http://www.hrc.org/resources/language-and-coming-out-issues-for-latinas-

and-latinos

Espinosa Y. (2017, July 28) Personal Interview

Garca, J. C. (2015, August 15). Mexican Family Culture. Retrieved July 28, 2017, from

http://family.lovetoknow.com/family-values/mexican-family-culture
Mexican Americans in the LGBTQ community 10

Homosexuality. (2004, August 10). Retrieved July 28, 2017, from

https://www.catholic.com/tract/homosexuality

Rinaldi, T. (2016, April 14). She fled abuse in Mexico, and now this trans woman says she was

abused in immigration detention too. Retrieved July 30, 2017, from

https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-04-14/after-almost-three-years-immigration-detention-and-

abuse-transgender-woman-looks

Villegas, P. (2017, April 23). Where Machismo Is Entrenched, Focus Moves to the Trenches.

Retrieved July 28, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/23/world/americas/where-

machismo-is-entrenched-focus-moves-to-the-trenches.html

Writers, S. (2012, July 13). Americas Shame: 40% of Homeless Youth Are LGBT Kids.

Retrieved July 28, 2017, from https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/americas-shame-40-of-

homeless-youth-are-lgbt-kids/