In case some Machas are enjoying Oaxaca City this summer, the second calenda is taking place this Saturday, July 10th. This year the motto is All people, all rights. Let’s celebrate being proud of who we are.

I think this will be an excellent opportunity to meet LGBT organizations based in that beautiful city.

The list of organizers is long: Red Oaxaqueña, Diáspora Feminista, Diversidades A.C., Colectivo Luzónica, Disidencia Queer, Colectivo Arcoíris, Red Nacional de Jóvenes Católicos por el Derecho a Decidir, CDD, Demysex Oaxaca, GLOBOCORPO, Sociedad Civil y Colectivo AAA.

Let us know how it was!

Segunda Marcha Calenda por la Diversidad Sexual, July 10th 2010, from Fuente de las 8 Regiones to the Zócalo, 12pm, Oaxaca City.

*Catron, thanks again for sharing information with us.

Two readings on new books focused on lesbianism and queerness will take place this Friday in different parts of the city. The first book is Entre amoras. Lesbianismo en la narrativa mexicana by María Elena Córdoba Rivera. The book will probably become one of the very few analysis about lesbian literature in Mexico. Experienced activists and writers will be present at the reading, so don’t miss this opportunity to ask all the questions about old school lesbianism in Mexico…

A couple of hours later, author Mauricio List Reyes will talk about his newest book Hablo por mi diferencia. De la identidad gay al reconocimiento de lo queer. List’s work focuses on sexuality as a political practice that works within a institutional construction closely related to modernity.

Whether you prefer literature or theory, both sound like good options to approach Mexican queer theory and practice. If you go to one of the readings, let us know your opinion.

Entre amoras. Lesbianismo en la narrativa mexicana, October 9th, 2009, 5:30pm; Torre II de Humanidades, 4th floor, Ciudad Universitaria, Copilco subway station.
Hablo por mi diferencia. De la identidad gay al reconocimiento de lo queer, October 9th, 2009, 7pm; Niza 23-A, between Reforma Ave. and Hamburgo St. Phone number 5533-7116.

This Wednesday the VII National Conference on Sexual Education and Sexology will start in Oaxtepec, Morelos. The Conference is organized by the Mexican Federation of Sexual Education and Sexology, a group of activists, and sexologists that promote sexual and reproductive rights in Mexico.

One of the highlights of the Conference is the presence of Mariela Castro, Raúl Castros’s controversial daughter who has taken actions regarding sexual diversity in Cuba. Castro will talk about the integration of the trans population in social policies, which I’d love to listen to, since it’s well known how difficult is to be gay, lesbian or trans in that Caribbean island.

Sexual diversity, sex among elderly people, self-esteem and sexuality, and how to talk about sex with children are some of the other lectures. You can see the whole program here, and if you go, don’t hesitate to report some of your impressions to Macha Mexico!

VII Congreso nacional de Educación Sexual y Sexología, from September 23rd to September 27th; Unidad de Congresos, Oaxtepec, Morelos; you can call for information to phone numbers 5601 2892 and 5601 4177.

This Thursday the Museo Universitario del Chopo is opening an exhibition brought to Mexico City by the Spanish organization Asociación Cultural Visible. The main purpose of this association, and thus, of the exhibition, is to open spaces for the GLBT community in order to achieve visibility and change the way that the broader society conceives these groups.

The highlight is the work of Yoko Ono, who made an installation with a tree where you can hang a little paper with your deepest desires. A piece that, as Ono says herself, attempts to encourage public participation and gather the people’s good purposes.

Other artists participating in this exhibition are the filmmaker Derek Jarman, as well as artists from Spain, France, Germany, Brazil, Cuba and Chile. Other activities will be part of the exhibition, such as workshops, and lectures. If you want to see the whole program click here.

Historias de Amor; Museo Universitario del Chopo at the Academia de San Carlos; Academia 22, Col. Centro; phone number 55352288, ext.110; Zócalo subway station

September is a patriotic month in Mexico, a time when you can find good food everywhere, parties, and of course, extravagant manifestations of Mexican nationalism. However, some GLBT people still manage to find spaces where they can get together and discuss their ideas during this time of the year.

Such is the case of the 1st. Conference of Sexual Diversity, that starts on September 17th, at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The program includes lectures, music, and theater related to sexual diversity in Mexico, and its political issues. One of the highlights is the series of lectures on September 21st about the current laws within the UNAM regarding GLBT rights, as well as the history of those groups inside the National University.

The other highlight is the closing ceremony which will be partially in charge of our friends Burlesquimeras, as well as other performers.

The event is organized by Udiversidad, a group of students that thrive for equality, respect and tolerance towards sexual diversity–as they introduce themselves in their blog. This is certainly a good alternative if you don’t want to deal with hordes on the streets celebrating Mexican independence day until dawn.

1st. Conference of Sexual Diversity at the UNAM, from September 17th to September 21st, various venues. You can see the program here

Burlesquimeras attack again. This time, they will celebrate their second anniversary at a little venue in Colonia Condesa. This burlesque group was created a couple of years ago as the result of the first neo-burlesque workshop that performer Old Ma Femme taught during the summer of 2007. If you’ve been following the sexy troupe since then, you will get to see some of the founders of the group–as well as fresh new dancers with interesting ideas. And, if you are curious about Mexican queer burlesque, this is the right place to be.

Viva Burlesque! Segundo Aniversario de Burlesquimeras, August 29th, 2009, I Love Myself, Saltillo 134, Col. Condesa, Chilpancingo metrobus and subway stations.

The other event is the IV Festival Cultural de Diversidad Sexual which will take place in different venues all over the city of Zacatecas. Literature, art, movies, and even a puppet show are included in the program. Most of the activities are in the evenings which is great if you are planning to walk around Zacatecas in the morning.

Macha Mexico will certainly be there, although we’re still a little bit conflicted about whether going to one or the other conference. We’ll probably split between the sexual diversity activism, and the desire of knowing more, and therefore, taking some action regarding the global food crisis. Whatever happens, Zacatecas is a great city and this is a great opportunity to enjoy it. We’ll keep you posted about our findings in this Mexican northern city where, as far as I can recall, the food is great and the streets are full of visual pleasures.

The Global Food Crsis Conference, 13-15 august 2009, Ave. Preparatoria s/n, Col. Hidraulica, Zacatecas,, phone (492) 899 6945. Free entrance.

IV Festival Cultural de la Diversidad Sexual Zacatecas 2009, 11-22 August 2009, various venues.

]]> http://www.machamexico.com/2009/08/11/two-conferences-at-zacatecas/feed/ 0 http://www.machamexico.com/2009/07/26/2nd-trans-festival-in-mexico-city/ http://www.machamexico.com/2009/07/26/2nd-trans-festival-in-mexico-city/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:25:59 +0000 Anahi http://www.machamexico.com/?p=1121

Macha Mexico is very glad to announce the Second Trans Festival of Mexico City. Thanks to the efforts of the Trans community and some machas directly involved in the organization of this event, arts and politics will merge again for those interested in knowing more about trans population in Mexico City.

If you have the opportunity, don’t miss Roshell’s show. She is great, and she will be at the closing party. You can see the whole program by clicking here.

Second Trans Festival, from July 30th to August 1st; Centro Cultural Xavier Villaurrutia, Glorieta de Insurgente Local 11, Insurgentes Metro Station.

Calenda is defined by Wikipedia as “a kind of stick-fighting dance tradition commonly seen practiced during Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago“. This year, Luzónica, a GLBT group based in Oaxaca, is using the word to celebrate their gay pride event, the first gay pride in Oaxaca City–no less. It will take place this Saturday, the motto being Ser diferente es un derecho (Being Different Is a Right). The march will go from Paseo Juárez “El Llano” to the very Zócalo or downtown of the city.

Since this is the first time that an event like this will be celebrated in the Oaxacan capital, I really wish them luck for this and the upcoming years. Go, machas! Go!

Primera Marcha Calenda Por la Diversidad Sexual, June 27th, from Paseo Juárez “El Llano” to the Zócalo, 12 p.m., Oaxaca City.