Mexico’s queer feminist movement has been loud, brave, and beautifully complex, rooted in resistance, creativity, and care. These five powerhouses (plus one unforgettable ally) didn’t just make space, they redefined it. And while each one carved a different path, their work intersects in one shared goal: freedom.
Let’s give them the recognition they deserve.
Nancy Cárdenas – Call Me Mother!
Nancy Cárdenas – Call Me Mother!She was the first public figure in Mexico to come out as a lesbian on national television, and she never looked back. Nancy co-founded the country’s first queer rights organization, helped publish the LGBTQ+ Manifesto, and led some of Mexico’s earliest Pride demonstrations. A poet, director, and activist, she centered lesbian voices in both art and politics, and demanded that feminism do the same.
Don’t forget to read more about her, here!
Yan María Yaoyólotl – The Revolution Will Be Archived
Yan María Yaoyólotl – The Revolution Will Be ArchivedA self-declared mystical warrior and lifelong activist, Yan María co-founded Mexico’s first lesbian-feminist group in the late ’70s. She blended Marxism, ecofeminism, and Indigenous resistance into her politics. She’s archived decades of lesbian-feminist struggle to make sure no one forgets. From anti-capitalism to anti-extractivism, her work remains a rallying cry for radical change.
Patria Jiménez – Power Lesbian Realness
Patria Jiménez – Power Lesbian RealnessIn 1997, Patria became Mexico’s first openly lesbian congresswoman. But her fight started long before that in feminist collectives, in LGBTQ+ protests, and on the frontlines of Zapatista solidarity. Once in office, she decriminalized “homosexuality” in legal language and pushed for justice in femicide cases. Patria brought the streets into Congress, and made history doing it.
Jesusa Rodríguez & Liliana Felipe – Life is a Cabaret!
Jesusa Rodríguez & Liliana Felipe – Life is a Cabaret!Theater, politics, and love. These two legends turned cabaret into an act of rebellion. Jesusa and Liliana met in Mexico’s countercultural scene and built an empire of resistance through performance. Their shows tackled everything from militarization to animal rights, always with humor and bite. In 2010, they became one of the first same-sex couples to legally marry in CDMX. Partners on and off stage, they’ve lived a radically queer life out loud.
Silvia Carmona – Chosen Family Matters
Silvia Carmona – Chosen Family MattersShe’s not queer herself, but Silvia Carmona has saved more queer lives than most public servers ever will. After contracting HIV in the ’90s, she turned her pain into purpose, founding Casa David, a shelter for people (mostly LGBTQ+) living with HIV/AIDS. Silvia’s home became a refuge, her activism a beacon. She reminds us that allyship isn’t a label, it’s a daily practice of care, dignity, and showing up.
Why These Stories Matter
Queer feminism in Mexico didn’t emerge from hashtags or headlines. It was built by people who put their lives on the line, in Congress, in protest, in art, in community.
Some were loud. Some worked quietly behind the scenes. All of them were necessary.
And they still are.
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