Affirmation Mexico Challenges Preconceptions Regarding Non-Binary Individuals

On January 2nd, 2022, Affirmation Mexico kicked off its activities for the year with a virtual training exploring gender theory and how our understanding of this subject is shaped by our life experiences. Affirmation Mexico President Celia Vázquez led the meeting, introducing her invited guest Dr. Raquel Acuña González. Dr. González gave a very detailed presentation, teaching us new concepts that challenged our preconceptions about gender, gender identity, and gender expression.

Raquel Acuña González obtained a doctorate in biotechnology from the University of Houston and is well-studied on LGBTQ+ issues. Following the pandemic, she started “Rachel’s Laboratory,” where she focuses on empowering the LGBTQ+ community with a specific focus on transgender individuals through various activities.

This activity provided us the opportunity to deconstruct our concepts about how non-binary individuals self-identify and their internal struggle to define who they are. Members of Affirmation Mexico were joined by guests from other LGBTQ+ organizations, including a special guest, Mr. Ángel Tenorio, the congressman for the State of Hildago, Mexico. Mr. Tenorio supported a law to recognize non-binary individuals in Mexico. Our guests contributed much to the meeting. Affirmation Senior Vice President Francisco Ruiz was in attendance as well and expressed his gratitude to Celia Vázquez Martínez and Raquel Acuña for providing the opportunity to discuss these important issues for our community.

If you would like to learn more about this topic, a recording of this meeting is available on Affirmation’s Spanish Youtube channel.

Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends will continue to create spaces where we can learn and share, but most importantly, where we can be authentic.