MEXICO: Gay Oaxacans and members of the indigenous community put recent violence and controversy behind them as they celebrate carnival

Record ID: 303454

  • Title: MEXICO: Gay Oaxacans and members of the indigenous community put recent violence and controversy behind them as they celebrate carnival
  • Date: 23rd February 2007
  • Summary: CARNIVAL DWELLERS GROUP WITH WHIPS VARIOUS PEOPLE DOING TRADITIONAL DANCES MUSICIAN PLAYING MUSIC PEOPLE DOING TRADITIONAL DANCE YOUNG MEN DANCING WITH A BALLOON
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABLCG5F9BZCDHAES7AA7GVWM5W
  • Story Text: The gay community in Oaxaca tried to put the area's recent problems on hold on Sunday (February 18), joining indigenous groups and others in a celebrating the local Carnival.
    For months, leftist groups and school teachers have been locked in often violent confrontations with the police and national guard in an effort to force out the state's governor, Ulises Ruiz. But Sunday, protesters and riot police were replaced by colourful floats, indigenous music and dancing, and flamboyantly dressed members of Oaxaca's gay community.
    Event organizer Jaime Katz said the carnivals of inland Oaxaca have deep roots, running back to pre-Colombian times.
    "In Oaxaca, the carnivals are different than the ones on the coast because they have a history of many years. Each region has their own dances, costumes and music and we have to look at each one differently. We have to look at them as art. It's indigenous art that we want to put in reach of the entire world," Katz told Reuters.
    This is the second year that civic groups including traditional dance teams, indigenous artisans, and the gay community have organized Oaxaca City's Carnival. Every region in the state was represented in some way.
    Esteban Gandarillas of the colourful gay group known as Vini Gaxhee said the role his organization was to protect gay rights and encourage safe sex.
    "We are participating because we are fighting against discrimination against sexual orientation, against homophobia. We are encouraging the use of condoms, the responsibility to take care of yourself. Our participation as a civic organization to be here and pass out condoms," Gandarillas said.
    Local tourism authorities also pitched in order to help the city recover after the past year's social and political disturbances severely damaged the tourist industry.
    Carnival was suspended in 1963 and started up again last year 2006, but organizers think that interest from the community and officials will assure its presence for years to come.
    A quirky story.
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