Openly gay politician heads a parliament in Mexico

Gay MP becomes speaker of a regional parliament

In the Mexican state of Baja California, a historic event took place– deputies unanimously elected Jaime Cantón Rocha, a representative of the left-wing Morena party, as chair of the regional parliament’s governing council (Mesa Directiva). This position is equivalent to that of a parliamentary speaker: he presides over sessions, sets the agenda, and officially represents the Congress.

Cantón has become the first LGBTQI+ legislator in the country to hold such a position.

The 29-year-old lawyer from Mexicali is known as an active advocate for equality and human rights. Over the past year, he has promoted reforms to reduce the working week to 40 hours, limit rent increases, amend the state constitution to strengthen protections for LGBTQI+s, and include an article in the criminal code addressing crimes motivated by transphobia.

In 2021, Cantón participated in marches and actions that led to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Baja California. Before being elected as a deputy, he worked as an adviser in the state Congress, the Mexicali city administration, and the state government, serving as coordinator of the governor’s cabinet.

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