Please Sign: Petition Against Homophobia in Puebla, Mexico

Dear comrades,

We are soliciting your help, once again, so that the crimes against Agnes Torres and five other murdered people do no go unpunished, and moreover so that conditions change and these crimes do not happen again.

If you agree with our position, we request your signatures, either as individuals or as organizations.  We ask that groups affiliated with political parties abstain from signing as a group and instead sign as individuals.

Please send signatures via email to observatoriodsyr@gmail.com. We will be closing the petition on Wednesday, March 14th at noon Central Standard Time.

Thank you. 

March 12, 2012
Puebla, Mexico


Given conditions of extreme vulnerability and violence against the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Transexual and Intersex population of the state of Puebla,

Given the authorities’ negligence to make appropriate public policies addressing respect, inclusion, and diversity,

Given the ominous silence of legislators, who have consistently put off work that addresses civil rights and discrimination, allowing discrimination to instead take on life in this realm,

Given the inaction by the state’s justice and Human Rights defense agencies, which have allowed for the continued existence of hate crimes, for a state of impunity and for a torn social fabric,

The signing organizations and individuals demand:

1) The resolution of all crimes against members of the LGBTTTI community, using the topic of “gender-based hate” as an investigatory focus, with emphases on transphobia and homophobia.  This process must happen with all possible speed and facility, as the law dictates the procurement of justice must occur.

2) That, once and for all, the State of Puebla enact a Law to Prevent and Eradicate Discrimination perpetuated for any motive, regulated and reflected in public policies immediately.

3) The establishment of a working group to generate a law on sex and gender identity for the state of Puebla, which will be known as The Agnes Torres Hernández Law.  The working group must include civil society organizations and specialists in the topics at hand.

4) The establishment of clear and firm punishments for all public servants who commit homophobic or discriminatory acts, especially when those acts cause people to become victims of those discriminatory crimes.

5) That the Human Rights Commission create a specialized office for topics related to Sexual and Reproductive Rights, with an expert staff, an appropriate budget, and a public agenda which has been discussed and approved of by Civil Society Organizations.

6) That the State Attorney General open a specialized agency for gender-based crimes, with focuses on feminicide and hate crimes including homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and lesbophobia; with a trained staff; and with a designated, appropriate, sufficient budget.

7) That the State Governor once and for all decree May 17th to be the State Day Against Homophobia, with organized activities and a state-wide budget to fight this atrocious problem.

8) That all public agencies within each state municipality implement permanent training programs on sexual diversity for their staff, to be planned and regulated by a multilateral agency, including participation by civil society organizations.

9) That there are guarantees and protection for those of us who dedicate ourselves to the defense of Human Rights in Puebla; this includes not only responsive actions, but, more importantly, preventative measures.

10) Given present Mexican electoral context (2012 is an election year), we want to be clear that we reject possible political or partisan gain with this citizen-directed document.


Sincerely,

Comité Orgullo Puebla (Puebla Pride Committee)

Observatorio Ciudadano de Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos AC (Citizen Observation Group for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Civil Association)

Vida Plena, No dejarse es Incluirse AC (Full Life, Civil Association)

Erósfera, Centro de Atención e Incidencia para la Salud y los Derechos Sexuales AC (Erósfera, Attention and Incidence Center for Sexual Health and Rights, Civil Association)

Red Democracia y Sexualidad (The Democracy and Sexuality Network)

El Taller Centro de Sensibilización y Educación Humana AC (The Public Awareness and Human Education and Workshop Center, Civil Association)

Asociación Jurídica Juvenil de Puebla AC (Puebla Youth Legal Association, Civil Association)

Radar 4º.

Red por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos en México-Puebla (Sexual and Reproductive Rights Network in Mexico-Puebla)