At the Monument to the Revolution, rainbow lights shoot up as part of a massive laser installation titled “Global Rainbow,” created by American artist Yvette Mattern. The installation features seven colored lasers that project across the sky, acting as a symbol of peace, hope and diversity during Pride Month. The beams shoot from the dome of the Monument to the Revolution straight to the Zócalo (Photo by Jesus Chairez)
JESUS CHAIREZ | Contributing Writer
MEXICO CITY —The 48th annual Mexico City Pride March — Marcha del Orgullo LGBT (LGBT Pride March) — will take place on Saturday, June 27, starting at 10 a.m.
Mexico City’s Pride is one of the largest Pride celebrations in Latin America — ranking right up there with the New York City Pride Parade in terms of size, drawing hundreds of thousands of participants.
This year’s theme is Ante los ojos del mundo: Mi lucha es tu lucha. ¡Igualdad, paz y solidaridad! (Before the eyes of the world: My struggle is your struggle. Equality, peace and solidarity!)
Though the location where the Pride March would begin was already known, where the march would end up has been a mystery, because the Zocalo — the parade’s ending spot for many years — has been closed due to it being the host location for the FIFA Fan Festival. Giant video monitors have been set up for fans to be able to watch the World Cup games and enjoy a variety of food, live music and culture performances.
So Mexico City’s LGBTQ community was told the Pride March could not end up at the Zocalo this year.
In addition, thousands of teachers from all over the Republic of Mexico were camped out on the Mexico City Center — the main route of the parade since late May. The teachers, who were demanding salary increases to outpace inflation and the repeal of a 2007 pension law — were camped out in pup tents in the middle of the streets, making it impossible to move around them.
Fortunately, the strike ended and the teachers disencamped and returned to their classrooms on June 20, eliminating one roadblock to the Pride March.
Rumors were circulating that Pride marchers were going to crash the FIFA Fan Festival or hold alternative stage and performances at plaza the Museum Bellas Artes and even at the Monument to the Revolution.
But then the Mexico City government relented and said that Pride March could end at the Zocalo after all and that the LGBTQ+ marchers were welcome to attend the FIFA Fan Festival. But marchers could not set up a closing stage at the Zocalo as in years passed.
Instead, the closing stage for this year’s Pride March will be set up on the big avenue in the city’s historic center, Avenue Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas, next to the Museum Bellas Artes. (Watch for more on how this maneuver will be accomplished in the Dallas Voice article following the parade.)
Though the Pride March got a bit of a chaotic start this year, it’s certain the event will, as always, be packed with more than a million people enjoying a high-energy extravaganza celebrating pride, joy and equality — something that is not to be missed.
Jesus Chairez is an ex-Dallasite now living in Mexico City. He can be reached at Facebook.com/JesusChairez.