Mexico’s Miss Universe Favors Marriage Equality

Sep 01, 2010

Last week Mexico’s Jimena Navarrete took the top title at the Miss Universe pageant. She wasn’t asked any controversial questions that could have cost her the crown, but soon afterward she was asked on Mexican radio about her thoughts of the rights for gays to marry.

Andres Duque from Babbleando translated her response:

Look, I believe that every person in this world has the right to profess the beliefs they have and I am in agreement. We have to respect what each human being decides to do with their lives, no? Clearly, there are limitations, of course, also, as there also are with heterosexual couples, no? Better said, there are limitations for any of the two — if they are heterosexual or homosexual – but I believe we have to learn to be respectful because they are people who are the same as us. There is no difference. And I don’t believe it’s just to discriminate somebody based on the gender they prefer, no? Based on the partner they choose to select, if it’s a man or a woman. The truth is that I am absolutely against discrimination and, well, what can I say. I have many friends who are homosexual and I adore them. And they are equal folk: There is no reason we should want to set them aside, there is no reason why we shouldn’t let them enjoy what they want to enjoy with their partner.

Read the rest at Babbleando.

With Mexico City’s recent move to legalize gay marriage, in which the Supreme Court there also forced states to recognize marriages performed in the capital, Navarrete’s response in support of marriage equality may not be all that surprising, but more of an emerging trend spreading among our neighbors south of the border.

Last month ColorLines reported that Argentina, another heavily Catholic country, passed legislation recognizing the rights for gays to marry. Meanwhile, countries like Brazil are also on the road to marriage equality.

In the 2010 Miss USA pageant, Miss California Carrie Prejean shared her views on gay marriage as well. Her anti-gay message probably cost her the crown. 

We’ll see if the state of California, and the country in general, are ready to get in line with Mexico and Argentina. In December, a randomly selected three judge panel will begin weighing appeals in the legal battle over Prop 8.