Offerings in Mexico for the memory, justice, and lives of sex workers and trans people
On November 2, three offerings were made in Mexico City in memory of sex workers who have been victims of violence or HIV-related illnesses, and of LGBT people murdered in the country.
Share
Photos and text: Georgina González
On November 2, three offerings were made in Mexico City in memory of sex workers who have been victims of violence or HIV-related illnesses, and of LGBT people murdered in the country.
Mexico is the country with the second highest rate of crimes against trans people in the world, and sex workers are the main victims, according to the organization Trans Europe . Furthermore, 39 LGBT people have been murdered so far this year, according to the National Observatory of Hate Crimes against LGBT People.
Every November 2nd, the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico, a day when most Mexicans celebrate life and the reunion with those who have passed away. The ofrenda (offering) serves to welcome loved ones back. They are offered their favorite foods, drinks, fruits, and sweets; they are decorated with confetti, seeds, candles, and various types of flowers. The one that never fails is, of course, the marigold.
Historic offering of Puente de Alvarado
Since 1999, independent sex workers in the Puente de Alvarado area, next to the Revolución metro station, have made an offering to commemorate their colleagues who lost their lives due to violence or illness.
"Today I recognize them, and today I am their voice. Today I demand from the government and society that they are important," said Esther, an independent sex worker, after telling the story of this offering.
This year, they also honored Jaime Montejo, a member of Brigada Callejera, an organization that has supported and promoted the rights of cisgender and trans sex workers in the Merced and Revolución neighborhoods since 1995.
Esther, who is also the founder of this offering, says that Jaime Montejo “gave his life for many of us so we could have food to eat during this pandemic.” Jaime died of COVID-19 on May 5.
Another ally of sex workers who also lost his life to COVID-19 was remembered in this offering. He is Jorge García, a priest who accompanied and offered masses to sex workers who were murdered or lost their lives to illness.
This offering is supported by donations from local sex workers. UNAM students and activists from the Trans Identities Support Center also participate.
Shortly before dusk, Esther, accompanied by other sex workers and assisted by two Catholic women, prayed the Rosary and recited the names of the women who are no longer with us and those who supported them.
“The living eat the dead”
Another hotspot for sex workers in Mexico City is Calzada de Tlalpan. For ten years, Ana Luisa Arias has placed a memorial service in memory of the sex workers in this area, "who are usually not remembered," she says.
The offering is located a few meters from the Caleta Hotel, where Alessa Flores was murdered in 2016. Her murder is part of a wave of violence that claimed 80 femicides that year in Mexico.
"Since Friday, when we put it up, it's been very pretty, you could have imagined. But here, the living ones have come out even more alive, and they're eating the food of the dead ones," she describes, describing how homeless sex workers have taken the fruit, bread, and water from the offering.
Unlike the historic offering at Puente de Alvarado, the one at Tlalpan looks sad and unstable. The wind easily knocks over the candles and colorful decorations. And the only one telling the story of this memorial is Ana Luisa. This time, no one else accompanies her.
“Our revenge will be to be happy”
The Tiresias Doll House, along with four other organizations and with support from the Mexico City government, set up an offering in memory of murdered LGBT people and sex workers.
A stretched canvas structure was placed at the exact spot where Paola Buenrostro got into the car of the ex-soldier who murdered her four years ago, a time that served for her friend, Kenya Cuevas, to further forge her activism .
"The first offering was me sitting on that stool (she points) with a bouquet of flowers and two candles. After the pain, I have transcended, not only to help other sex workers, but also other vulnerable populations," Kenya Cueva says into the microphone.
This year, Kenya is not alone. She is surrounded by artists, activists, LGBT people, allies, journalists, and her team from the Tiresias Dollhouse. The offering is adorned with marigolds; chocolate skulls (skull-shaped candies); fruit; ceramic figurines; colorful confetti; and candles of all sizes.
For the first time, trans and non-binary adolescents from different parts of Mexico participated in the offering. Graphic pieces were displayed on the views these adolescents and young adults have on transfemicide.
“We think it's very important that a channel of communication can be established between these two generations, and they're very excited because they know that it's thanks to trans sex workers and activists that they've won rights and that we're now fighting for the rights of trans children and adolescents,” says Nathan Ambriz, illustrator, independent cultural manager, and coordinator of this exhibition.
In addition to denouncing crimes against LGBT people and sex workers, attendees celebrated their lives and the revenge of happiness with impersonation, burlesque, and cumbia shows.
We are Present
We are committed to a type of journalism that delves deeply into the realm of the world and offers in-depth research, combined with new technologies and narrative formats. We want the protagonists, their stories, and their struggles to be present.
SUPPORT US
FOLLOW US
Related Notes
We Are Present
This and other stories don't usually make the media's attention. Together, we can make them known.