Gay Pride in Mexico

Happy Pride! While most of the world regards the month of June as Gay Pride Month, a quick dive into the website GoGayToday.com revealed that gay pride events this year started as early as January in Australia. Here in Puerto Vallarta, the official Pride always takes place at the end of May, so while it may be too late for you to pack your bags and enjoy our event, this is a perfect opportunity to share some insights about Gay Pride history in Puerto Vallarta, where the official event has only been celebrated for a decade.

It was back in December 1989 that Paco Ruiz opened his legendary Paco Paco bar. At the time, Puerto Vallarta was considered a popular destination among the LGBTQ+ community, but the city was not particularly gay friendly. As such, and not unlike other cities in the world, folks that attended his bar and other venues that followed did so under the constant threat of police raids in which authorities would attempt to incarcerate patrons in exchange for bribes simply for being at the venues.

A couple years later, cops saw two women kissing at Paco Paco and threatened to arrest them unless they received a bribe. Paco Ruiz famously intervened, preventing the women from being arrested but also refusing to pay a bribe. As a result, the police arrested the bar owner, instead.. Nino Canún, a highly respected journalist and TV personality in Mexico, happened to be in town at the time and learned of the arrest through Paco’s life partner of 30 years, David Langley. The case quickly received media attention nationwide, and much to the surprise of many, Mexico’s society at the time frowned upon the authority’s decision to arrest Paco. Under pressure, he was released from jail and little by little, Paco Paco became known as a “safe place” for the community.

Aside from owning the bar, Paco Ruíz was also a hotel owner and businessman who constantly advocated for those afflicted by HIV/AIDS. Sadly, he died in 2016 of a heart attack and complications from cancer, only two years after his partner, David. The legacy bar Paco’s Ranch continues to be one of the most popular gay bars in the city.

If you are interested in Mexico’s gay history, the 2020 feature film El Baile de los 41 (Dance of the Forty One, available on Netflix) is a must watch. The film depicts a famous raid that took place in Mexico City in 1901—decades before Stonewall—in which a number of men, half dressed as women, were arrested in a private home simply for having fun. In the official report, 40 people were arrested, but there were 41 people present. Who was missing from the report? A gay congressman who had married the Mexican president’s daughter bug secretly cavorted with other men at the aforementioned private home. The incident so shocked society at the time that on the one hand, the number 41 became a symbol for the closeted gay community. It also enraged Mexico’s President Porfirio Díaz such that the use of the number 41 was abolished in the government—from infantry battalions to license plates.

Photo provided by Bearadisemx.com

Photo provided by GayGuideVallarta.com

Photo provided by GayGuideVallarta.com

Needless to say, Mexico in general and Puerto Vallarta in particular, have come a long way when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, and our city has become a mecca for gay travelers, worldwide. Furthermore, four months from now, Guadalajara—our state capital—will co-host the XI Gay Games 2023, also known as Gay Games 11, along with Hong Kong. The multi-sport event will take place from November 11 – 19, bringing together a large number of LGBTQ+ athletes, artists and musicians. Earlier this year, Guadalajara earned a spot on The New York Times list of “52 Places to Go in 2023” for its thriving LGBTQ+ scene.

Whether you celebrate Gay Pride publicly or privately, Puerto Vallarta continues to thrive as a not-to-be-missed destination for our community, largely due to the increased communication and understanding between us and our city administration, and one of mutual respect. But as usual—and we’ve said so before—it never hurts to look around you and follow the popular axiom, when in Rome do what the Romans do. Treat our city, our culture with respect and you’ll be guaranteed an amazing time.

Catch up with Paco Ojeda live Monday – Saturday at 10:30 am local time, on his talk show, “Coffee & Headlines,” where he shares headlines and stories for Puerto Vallarta’s local English-speaking community. facebook.com/pacoojedalive