Being Gay in Mexico Today

published April 1, 2004 - Mom Guess What Newspaper

Known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” Cuernavaca is located in the mountains, fifty miles south of Mexico City. Named by Cortez and the Conquistadors, it boasts year-round temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees fahrenheit. Cuernavaca is the capital of the state of Morelos, and lies on the route to Taxco and Acapulco. It has more than a 1,000,000 inhabitants.

It is also the site of CETLALIC, an alternative Spanish language school, which uses total immersion in the culture to teach Spanish to anyone, no matter their proficiency level on arrival at the school. CETLALIC was founded in 1987 to teach the language and culture of Mexico, and is dedicated to the tradition of solidarity, community service and social responsibility.

According to Jorge Torres, the school’s director, a person with no Spanish language skills can learn enough through this program to carry on rudimentary conversations at the end of three to four weeks, and more sophisticated conversations by the end of six weeks.

“The reason this is possible,” said Torres, “is because we evaluate each student individually. Upon arrival at the school, the skill level of each participant is determined and they are placed with others of the same skill. Each student stays in the home of a Spanish speaking family, and eats meals with them. Students attend classes for five hours each day and are totally immersed in the culture.”

Torres, along with his wife Martha Mata, the school’s administrator and an M.D., and their 2-year old son were in town visiting Larry Hoover, who has recently completed a stay at the school himself. The Torres were on a trip to promote the school’s gay and lesbian programs.

Though Mexico is not known for its gay scene, Torres said things are changing slowly, and that CETLALIC developed a gay and lesbian program in response to these changes. When asked why a gay and lesbian program was added to his school’s other programs, he said, “It started in ‘86 when we supported El Salvador in Central America. We were supported by American students who wanted to learn Spanish and a large number of them were gay and lesbian.”

“Mexican culture is not open about homosexuality. I really began to think about it when I met Holly Near (singer/activist). Since I am left wing, and being left wing means being alternative, it also means accepting sexual diversity. I took some classes at an east coast university where there were lots of us left wing who got to ask all the questions we wanted to. Before, I think, we had spider webs in our minds.”

The school has eight program sessions planned for 2004. Of these, three are specifically tailored for gay and lesbian immersion in Spanish culture and language. Torres hastened to point out that “if you want to party, this is not the place. The purpose here is to learn Spanish and to learn about our culture in a way that is comfortable at the same time.”

As Larry Hoover said, “It’s a great way to learn and have fun at the same time. There was no one at my same skill level when I was there, so I had private instruction. I couldn’t believe that by the end of my time there I was having a philosophical discussion about the meaning of wearing masks in the Spanish culture in Spanish!”

Hoover said that he enjoyed both his stays there and that the experience is definitely worth repeating. “The school gives you access to the real community. On my first stay, I ended up in a gay karaoke bar one night. I never would have gotten there if someone associated with the school had not taken me there.”

When asked about cost, Torres said a minimum price was about $400 US dollars per week, without field trips. The website and literature say the cost with field trips, which are highly recommended, brings the cost to about $500 per week.

The next gay and lesbian programs are scheduled for June 12 - July 2, 2004, to coincide with the Gay Pride Parade in Mexico City. For gays the program is “Coming Out: The Gay Experience in Mexico.” It includes:

-Daily intensive Spanish instruction from 9am to 2pm, with a maximum of
five students per class.

–Cultural activities, including guest speakers, round table discussions,
museum visits, and community groups discussing such topics as the history of the gay and lesbian movement in Mexico, coming out stories of Mexican
gays, gays in the workplace, and gays in the arts. All activities are in Spanish, but will be translated to English when necessary.

–Weekend excursions are planned for Mexico City and includes participation in the “Marcha de Orgullo”– the 25th annual gay and lesbian pride march, as well as visits to t he Frida Kahlo Museum and downtown Mexico City and a trip to the Xochicalco ruins and the Taxco silver mining town.

– Homestay placement will be with a gay or gay friendly family in the Cuernavaca community. The brochure states,“Staying with a Mexican family gives the opportunity to experience the distinct pace of life in modern Mexico, sharing their food, customs and warm hospitality. This experience makes the program more personal and profound. It also provides particpants with ample opportunity to practice Spanish in everyday situations.

The lesbian program is called, “In/Visibility: Lesbians Lives in Mexico.” The lesbian program shares many of the elements of the gay program, but cultural activities, guest speakers, etc., follow an agenda tailored especially for lesbians.

Spending a vacation going to school, learning Spanish and sharing a home with warm friendly strangers may not appeal to everyone, but for those who yearn to learn, who are fascinated by all things Mexican, CETLALIC may offer the experience of a lifetime.

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