Iram N., a transgender woman who self-identified as María N., was allegedly murdered in Huamantla by her partner in September of last year. Her case is one of three documented as hate crimes by the LGBTIQ+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, and other identities) in 2024.
The Mexican government describes a hate crime as a crime motivated by intolerance, prejudice, or animosity that denies dignity and personal and collective rights to those who consider themselves different. It is primarily linked to manifestations of racial, national, sexual, ethnic, religious hatred, or other forms of behavior that discriminate against certain people.
On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, celebrated every May 17, El Sol de Tlaxcala spoke with Omar Corte Espinoza, president of the association “Nunca dejes de brillar Tlaxcala,” who shared his perspective on the segregation that members of the LGBT community still suffer in 2025.
In an interview, he applauded the existence of a legal framework that guarantees certain rights, but criticized the fact that there are still pending measures to truly create opportunities for them and allow them to be included in society without any discrimination.
One of his main concerns, he shared, has to do with the apparently biased investigation of hate crimes by the State Attorney General’s Office (FGJE), specifically targeting gay men.
He spoke specifically about two homicide cases that allegedly occurred after a date arranged through a mobile app popular among the LGBT community, and in which the FGJE, before any other situation, informed the families about the need to disclose the men’s sexual presence.
Later, he said, the Public Ministry decided that the line of investigation would not be for an alleged hate crime, and instead blamed the victims for using the dating app or for having had a few “little drinks,” and then the investigations were directed toward a sudden assault or alcohol intoxication.
Therefore, Omar Corte Espinoza considered it important to have clear laws, as this not only benefits and protects those who are part of the LGBT community, but also helps their families feel safe, free from fear, and stop demanding that diverse people remain anonymous.
Shelter created for diverse people who are victims of discrimination
Almost two years ago, Omar Corte Espinoza, president of the association “Nunca dejes de brillar Tlaxcala,” created a temporary shelter to help people in the LGBT community who are experiencing financial, family, work, or social difficulties, and who are often left homeless.
Under the name “Nunca dejes de brillar,” like his association, it was born from his altruistic spirit, which initially provided support to those who are carriers of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which led him to meet people who were being kicked out of their homes because of their sexual orientation.
Activists believe there are still pending issues for the community, such as job quotas or eliminating the so-called risk of contagion.
She indicated that at the time, those most affected by these situations were trans people, a community in Tlaxcala that has been severely discriminated against since they changed their identity. This has forced them to live on the streets or engage in prostitution, as the same discrimination prevents them from accessing employment.
They can’t find work because they arrive at work and present their INE identification, but when they see them, they realize they don’t look exactly like the picture, and that’s when they decide to turn to prostitution.
He shared that, around that same time, one of his friends was kicked out of the house by his mother precisely because of his sexual preferences, so he gave him shelter in his home for three days, during which time he made a decision and returned home.
Corte Espinoza mentioned that, based on these situations, the idea of creating a space to shelter the homeless and prostituted trans community, in the case of Tlaxcala on the Chiautempan-Puebla Short Route, was born.
He added that this is how the civil association he currently presides was born, which is duly constituted, with a charter, as the intention is to be legally established to be able to offer help to people without any misinterpretation, and so that those who truly need it can come without mistrust.
At the “Never Stop Shining” shelter, victims receive free support, shelter, food, psychological support, and legal assistance for one month, during which time they have the opportunity to find employment and stabilize their lives.
We still have many ideas within the association; we want to develop a future entrepreneurship plan so that people who are there and who are unemployed can start their own businesses. The money will go to them, so they can move forward and have a better quality of life in a home.
Omar Corte Espinoza
To access this type of assistance, interested individuals should contact Omar Corte Espinoza through the “Never Stop Shining Tlaxcala” association’s social media channels. They will be referred and accepted, provided they pass a screening process to determine their actual situation.
If admitted, individuals must provide the information of two individuals who will be their emergency contacts and sign a letter of responsibility stating that they are in the shelter of their own free will and were not forcibly admitted.
“We are still subjected to violence and discrimination, we still face many risks, and so we do need these initiatives to be approved in the local Congress. We will continue to demand, and if necessary, we will use all means to demand that we be respected, because May 17th is indeed the day to fight against homophobia, but we want this to truly become a reality,” she stated.
This May 17th, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, groups in Tlaxcala will express their rejection of these types of situations by displaying banners in the characteristic colors of the LGBT community.
Source: oem
