Gay Pride Parade, Marcha Gay, en Mexico D.F., was held Saturday, June 28, 2008. More than two hundred thousand people marched from the Angel de Independence in La Zona Rosa, in Mexico City’s gay business district, to the Zocalo.

The heavy rain held off on Saturday, but it did sprinkle a little bit and the girls went running for cover. The straight people were not ready for all the queens running around in the department stores and restaurants though. The stares they gave our sexy men and women that were often dressed in very outrageous outfits, makeup or wearing hardly anything at all was all MUY fun to see.

Click photo below of SUPER GAY to view the slide show pics of La XXX Marcha de Orgullo LGBT in Mexico City.

Being here in Mexico City since May 18th has been, is, PARADISE! Have friends coming in from Texas to be here to attend the 30th anniversary Pride Marcha – Parade here in El BIG DF, Saturday, June 28, 2008; starts at Noon.

So how about some party music for this fabulous occasion. AND of course, this video is dedicated to my comadre, Alaska, in Dallas, who couldn’t be here. You are missed mujer.

This expression below, taken from the song, says what I feel about being here in Mexico City. Be sure to return here early next week to see the pictures taken of the parade too.

Attended Tlaxcala's 2008 Pride Parade: Marcha por la Diversidad Sexual – Tlaxcala 2008, Saturday, June 21, 2008, held in the state of Tlaxcala and in the capitol city of Tlaxcala, population 15,777; located 2 hrs east of Mexico City. 150 people to 200 attended this Marcha. GLBT people from nearby Apizaco along with other people from various surrounding communities were also in attendance. This is the fifth year the parade, Marcha, has been held in Tlaxcala with a couple of people making mention that only like 3 years ago only about 15 people had openly participated in the Marcha.

The state of Tlaxcala is the smallest of the states in the Republic of Mexico and the capitol of Tlaxcala as mentioned has a population of 15,777 people so it is a very small community. This Marcha being held in such a small community is a major event when one considers that most people think that GLBT freedoms only exist in larger cities i.e. Mexico City, Monterry, etc.

The parade went effortlessly with no trouble from the conservative community. Many non-GLBT people stopped to watch the march with several Macho men laughing at what some called los jotos (the fags); no trouble or fights though. The only scary part for me during the march was when the police showed up in full riot gear. Two young men leading the parade with the lead banner ran out of procession to block the police. And I thought those two guys were really brave considering I was already clutching my pearls thinking there was going to be trouble from the police. One friend told me that he felt that the police was probably there to offer protection, but I was not buying it because the marcha was almost to the end of it’s destination AND there was never a problem.

The police presence to me was more of an OK, you got your marcha and when you get to the end of your March, the Zocalo, there better be no trouble. You see, though the parade was allowed, the GLBT community was NOT offered nor allowed a stage or speakers for GLBT community leaders to make closing comments nor were tables or booths allowed. I was told the reason for the omission at the Zocalo for the GLBT community because there were families with children present. Give me a break but this sounds very typical for Mexico.

Though the GLBT community was allowed its Marcha, parade, by the local government, there was discrimination at the end. But the high spirits of the GLBT community was not in anyway trampled. At the end of the Marcha a moment of silence was held in memory of the Marcha creator, Miguel Fausto Netzahualcoyotal Landa, who was not able to attend this years March because he had passed away due to AIDS. After the moment of silence there was a rather large applause for Miguel.

After being in the presence of so many enthusiastic young Mexican GLBT people showing their Out of the Closet pride in a such a wonderful parade I was disappointed I did not get the opportunity to meet Miguel. He really started something wonderful in this very small community and in the Republic of México. People are tired of living in the closet and in Tlaxcala it showed.

As I left the city, and was on the highway I turned to look back to see the city one more time and saw this rainbow coming out of Tlaxcala - No kidding! I think it was like a sort of a sign from Above, saying - I am With YOU and am taking care of you (OK, I agree I am being a little dramatic here, but what the hell, I am a drama queen!)

Most were also excited to be going to Mexico City for the LARGEST Pride March in Latin America which will be held Saturday, June 28, 2008. This will mark the 30th year anniversary and the march is titled, Marchnando por la Equidad. Parade starts at 12 NOON at the Angel of Independance on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City's gay business district, La Zona Rosa.

Santo Gay

This is the 30 year anniversary of Pride Marches in Mexico City, the bigest in Latin America with an estimated attendance of 500,000. If you have not been you should, much bigger than Dallas' Pride Parade.

Well every one seems to want to know what I am doing now that I have moved México City. The main question that comes up is am I working? And the answer is no, not an 8 – 5 job at least. I am spending a lot of time at outdoor cafes watching the beautiful scenery, reading the paper or on the Internet. The weather here is mostly like fall weather in the low 70’s for the high and mid to high 50’s at night so I walk a lot too. I walk to the museums, galleries and am exploring my wonderful new surroundings.

To see a slide show, click a photo below. Photos by Jesus Chairez:

The owners of Tio Tortas on Lemmon Ave. bought what was left of the Lucha Libre mask collection. Too Tio Tortas has the best tortas North of the Rio Grande.





























Below is a picture of my apartment building that I live in México City. I live on the second floor and being that the building has no elevator, it is nice not having to climb the stairs to the ninth floor with grocery bags in hand.












































I have found many nice places to eat too but I enjoy going to this torta place across the street from my apartment building because it is so kitsch with their Lucha Libre décor. The place is called Lucha Tortas, no kidding!














Though I have met many artists and some writers here in D.F. I had to go visit my artist friend, Alicia Martinez because she wrote a proposal and was granted the use of an old Japanese trolley bus to use as a studio and a place to have workshops. It is just the BEST use of an old bus yet that I know of. Also the trolley bus sits on the street next to a lovely park by the name, Plaza Luis Cabrera and is located in Col. Roma.












































And this picture below is of a tree kids love to stick their chewing gum on. I call it street art and it is a work in progress since it changes everyday, sometimes several times a day with color and texure. The tree is located in front of Mix Up in La Zona Rosa on calle Genova.




































And then I bought a new camera, this one made out of Tecate beer cans. Life is GOOD!

This gay photo art show titled "Familias Mexicans" (Mexican Families) is on display in the Metro (Subway) in Centro Medico stop and is part of Pride activities in Mexico City, MEXICO. Well, this is a great place to have the exhibit because lots of common people will see the exhibit which runs through the end of June 2008. Photos by Oscar Sanchez and sponsored by Museo Universitario de Chopo. It is a nice exhibit and it was good to see many families stopping to view the show. Would love to see an exhibit like this in one of Dallas' DART station in Oak Cliff or the Dallas Latino Cultural Center. Yea, right in Dallas - PLEEZ!

Below is the information in Spanish. Need an English translation of the article? Click here for English.

Retrata Oscar Sánchez la vida de familias no convencionales

Seems like life tough everywhere lately.  I have been keeping up with the news concerning the soaring price of fuel and basic home foods back in my old home town of Dallas and the USA.  Well, the increase in living expenses is happening here in México too.  Though I moved to México during a high inflation time, I am still ahead of the game compared to Dallas in that I can absorb the increase better here.

In order to keep the cost of basic foods down, the Mexican government decided freeze, “,,,prices on some 150 food products, ranging from cooking oil to beans, to ease the impact of rising global food costs on households and the economy, President Felipe Calderon said.”

What affects the USA effects México.  There is saying here, When the USA gets the flu, México get pneumonia.

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Mexico freezes basic food prices to fight inflation

MEXICO CITY, June 18 (Reuters) - Mexico is freezing prices on some 150 food products, ranging from cooking oil to beans, to ease the impact of rising global food costs on households and the economy, President Felipe Calderon said on Wednesday.

Calderon, who recently lowered import tariffs on some key foodstuffs, said industry federation Concamin had agreed to not raise prices on some foods until the end of the year.

"With this decision by Concamin, the prices of more than 150 products will freeze from today and until the end of the year," Calderon told a news conference with the head of the industry group.

Like many countries, Mexico is feeling the effects of soaring prices of basic foods due to the increased use of biofuels and the growing demand for grains to feed a booming Asia, compounded by droughts and market speculation.

Mexican annual inflation rose to 4.95 percent in May from 4.55 percent in April, the highest rate since late 2004.

The cost of cooking oil, a large component within the consumer price index, has surged more than 50 percent over the past year. Prices of cooking oil, often made from grains, will only be frozen until the end of August, the government said.

Mexico last month reduced import tariffs to zero on a number of foodstuffs and cut prices of home-grown rice to 10 percent below international market prices as part of a package of measures to ease the effect of rising food prices on consumers.  Continued..

Here is some Gay Pride infor for Mexico in Spanish. If you would like a translation to English click here.

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Todo México celebra el mes del orgullo gay
El movimiento lésbico, gay, bisexual y transgénero de México cumple 30 años de lucha social, política y económica este 28 de junio, día mundial del orgullo gay. La Marcha del Orgullo LGBT de ciudad de México espera más de 150 mil asistentes.

por Redacción Anodis
[contacto@anodis.com]

Monterrey, Guadalajara, Cancún, Ciudad Juárez, Chilpancingo y la ciudad de México celebrarán el orgullo Lésbico, Gay, Bisexual, Travesti, Transgénero y Transexual (LGBT) durante el mes de junio, mediante desfiles, mítines políticos y festivales culturales para exigir igualdad de derechos y visibilizar la diversidad sexual. Este 2008 el movimiento LGBT mexicano cumple 30 años de lucha política, social y económica.

Junio es considerado el mes del orgullo gay porque en la noche del 28 de junio de 1969, la policía irrumpió en el bar gay Stonewall Inn, en la ciudad de Nueva York, con el pretexto de que el lugar no contaba con licencia para expender bebidas alcohólicas. En aquella ocasión los asistentes al lugar, en vez de someterse, se rebelaron y se desencadenaron tres días de disturbios contra la represión autoritaria en el barrio Greenwich Village. Este hecho marca el inicio de un nuevo periodo en la reivindicación de los derechos humanos y civiles de la gente gay y, desde 1970, junio se conmemora como el mes del orgullo gay en todo el mundo.

Por esta razón, el pasado 14 de junio, en Monterrey, Nuevo León, por octava ocasión la comunidad lésbico LGBT y la población a favor de la diversidad sexual de Monterrey desfiló por las calles y avenidas del primer cuadro de la ciudad. Exigiendo tolerancia, respeto a sus derechos humanos y principalmente el reconocimiento, más de 15 organizaciones tomaron las calles con la finalidad de exigir la atención de las autoridades.

Al finalizar la marcha, el colectivo LGBT de Monterrey coronó a la diputada panista Norma Robles como reina de la homofobia 2008, por haber impulsado la “ley de la familia” en Nuevo León, que aprobó en septiembre pasado el Congreso local, de mayoría panista, y que vetó el gobernador priísta Natividad González Parás. La propuesta, también conocida como ley Robles, fue calificada por el resto de los partidos de una “necedad”, pues contiene párrafos enteros copiados de una encíclica que dictó el papa Juan Pablo II en los ochenta.

Por su parte, para el próximo 21 de junio, la Coalición de Organismos y Activistas de la Diversidad Sexual con trabajo en Sida y Derechos Humanos (COASIDH) de Guadalajara, Jalisco, convocaron a los medios de comunicación, a las autoridades estatales y municipales, instituciones empresariales, académicas, culturales, a la comunidad LGBT y a la sociedad en general, a sumarse a la XII manifestación en defensa y ejercicio de la ciudadanía, de los derechos y libertades sexuales, “asumiendo que el Estado no puede excluir las diferencias y las particularidades de los ciudadanos, puesto que la democracia que vive nuestro país exige hoy, el reconocimiento y el respeto a las diferencias”, comunicaron en rueda de prensa.

Una semana después, el sábado 28 de junio, se realizará el mayor evento público del colectivo LGBT de México en el Distrito Federal. La XXX Marcha del Orgullo Lésbico, Gay, Bisexual, Transgénero, Transexual y Travesti partirá del Ángel de la Independencia al Zócalo capitalino donde será coronada como reina gay la actriz y cantante Susana Zabaleta. El Comité Orgullo México A.C. (COMAC) espera la asistencia de más de 150 mil personas en lo que es considerada la mayor fiesta por la diversidad sexual de la República Mexicana.

Lol Kin Castañeda, presidenta de COMAC, que organiza la manifestación multicolor en el D.F., ha declarado: “Esta XXX Marcha del Orgullo LGBT tiene como bandera la permanente lucha que hemos dado desde el activismo hacia la búsqueda de equidad en su sentido más amplio y que nos hace replantear cual es la agenda política que tenemos como sectores de la población con un común aglutinador: la falta de derechos jurídicos y la falta de conocimiento y reconocimiento social”.

El mismo 28 de junio, día mundial del orgullo gay, el colectivo LGBT también celebrará el 6º aniversario de la Agencia de Noticias sobre Diversidad Sexual (Anodis), un sistema de información que desde hace seis años transmite noticias, opiniones y análisis a través de piezas periodísticas sobre la comunidad Lésbico, Gay, Bisexual, Travesti, Transgénero y Transexual en México mediante el uso de Internet y con el apoyo de una red de reporteros, corresponsales, y colaboradores. Anodis es patrocinador oficial de las Marchas del orgullo LGBT de Monterrey, Guadalajara y Ciudad de México así como de la XXI Semana Cultural Lésbica Gay.

El orgullo LGBT nacional continúa el sábado 28, en Cancún, Quintana Roo donde se llevará a cabo la 5a Marcha del Orgullo, la Dignidad y la Diversidad sexual con el objetivo de “visibilizar a través de la participación ciudadana y mediante una caminata pacifica y festiva de diversos contingentes, amigos y de familiares, los logros que la comunidad homosexual de México”. Los organizadores aseguran que través de la comunidad LGBT, ese municipio participa en la construcción de la Democracia. La ruta: del Crucero Plaza 2000 al Parque de las Palapas de aquella ciudad.

Al día siguiente, el 29 de junio se celebrará en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, la 4a Marcha de las Diversidades Afectivo Sexuales, la cual dará inicio a las seis de la tarde en el Parque Borunda. Recorrerá la avenida 16 de Septiembre para terminar en el Parque Monumento a Benito Juárez. Carlos Martín Morales Torres, representante de la Red de organizaciones por la Salud, La Educación y Los Derechos Humanos de Las Diversidades Sexuales en ciudad Juárez, informó que este año se espera una asistencia de mil personas, superando a las tres marchas anteriores.

También el jueves 26 de junio, el Centro de Estudios y Proyectos para el Desarrollo Humano Integral, A.C. encabezará la VII Marcha del Orgullo LGBT, en Chilpancingo, Guerrero, que partirá del Monumento a las Banderas y donde será corona como reina la actriz de teatro, cabaret y televisión: la transgénero Alejandra Bogue. Al final, en un club nocturno gay se llevará a cabo la fiesta oficial con el show "No soy Madonna pero soy La Bogue".

En cuanto a eventos artísticos, entre otros festivales, del 24 al 27 de junio se realizará la XXI Semana Cultural Lésbica Gay en la ciudad de México. El programa incluye la presentación del libro ECCE HOMO del Dr. Antonio Salazar en el Centro Cultural de España; así como un concierto de Horacio Franco, considerado uno de los mejores flautistas del mundo, quien es abiertamente homosexual y uno de los artistas más exitosos de México que ejecuta un amplio repertorio desde música folklórica y antigua hasta clásica, contemporánea y popular.

Actualmente en el Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, Metro, se expone una selección de 12 fotografías en gran formato sobre las “familias diversas” de la cual Salvador Irys, director de la Semana Cultural Lésbica Gay, comentó: “No sólo hay padres gays y madres lesbianas, sino transexuales y diferentes formas de familia. Se trata de sensibilizar sobre la existencia de éstas”. Familias mexicanas, de Oscar Sánchez, se exhibirá durante todo junio en la estación "Centro Médico" del Metro.

Del mismo modo, durante junio se llevan a cabo festivales artísticos, desfiles y mítines políticos en Los Ángeles, Nueva York, San Francisco, Toronto, Barcelona, Madrid, París, entre otras ciudades, siendo el 28 de junio, el día del año que más gays, lesbianas, bisexuales y personas transgénero celebran el orgullo por su orientación sexual y/o identidad de género diferente.

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www.anodis.com

Latinos fight back; attack the Chinese from the cookie, fortune cookie that is!

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Douglas, Ariz. couple puts Mexican spin on fortune cookie concept

By JONATHON SHACAT / Sierra Vista Herald

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) -- Open a Dichos cookie and you will find a slip of paper with a message.

It's not a fortune like you would expect from a cookie in a Chinese restaurant. Rather, it's a Mexican folk saying like, "A cat that sleeps will catch no mice."

Raul Montano, 44, and his wife, Marina, 42, started baking the cookies at the beginning of this year in Douglas. So far, they have made more than 375,000 cookies, each containing one of a variety of 100 "dichos," or "sayings."

"Our town is rich with tradition and 'dichos' are heard in everyday conversation among the citizens of Douglas and our neighbors across the border," states the company's Web site.

Marina Montano said she and her husband thought of the idea for Dichos while eating fortune cookies at a Chinese restaurant in Tucson during a birthday celebration in March 2007.

They decided the cookie should be in the shape of a taco and contain a Mexican saying that is written in Spanish on one side of the paper and in English on the other.

"He came up with the cookie and I came up with the name and the sayings," she said.

Dichos are made with flour, sugar, eggs, corn starch, artificial vanilla, cinnamon and water. The mixed ingredients are pumped into a machine that bakes the cookies, bends them and inserts the slips of paper.

The cookies are packaged on a separate machine.

People can order Dichos on the company's Web site. Each case, which contains 250 cookies, costs $12.50, or 5 cents per cookie. The company also will custom print personalized labels and insert them with cookies in clear wrapping for $25 for 100.

Dichos are currently sold to US Foods and Sysco. The Montanos are starting an agreement with a broker in California.

Some of the local businesses that give away Dichos include Chatita's Mexican Restaurant in Douglas, Yogi's Cafe in Douglas, Mexico Lindo Family Restaurant in Bisbee, Santiago's Mexican Restaurant in Bisbee, and even a Chinese restaurant in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Raul Montano said.

"We try to take them out to every table at the end of the meal," said Glynnis Reed, front-of-the-house manager at Santiago's. "There is one woman who comes in particular. She won't order dessert, but she won't leave without her Dicho - her little Mexican taco. If you give her two, it's like you just made her day."

Some examples of the sayings are: "The shrimp that falls asleep is carried away by the current," "Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are," "Get a man drunk if you want to know him" and "There is no bad thing that doesn't bring something good."

"They are kind of different than a fortune cookie because in a fortune cookie you get your lucky numbers and you get a fortune like, 'Today you will meet somebody prosperous,'" Reed said. "This is more like a saying. We have our favorite one taped up over by the bar. It says, 'The drunkenness will pass, but the ugliness will not.' "

Dichos are only baked in the factory in Douglas on an as-needed basis right now. But Raul Montano envisions producing thousands of cookies per hour all day long and adding to the company's current work force of four part-time employees.

The Montanos have invested a significant amount of money in equipment. The economy is tough now, but they are hopeful that business will pick up soon.

"I would just be happy to get out of our debt and send our kids to college," Marina Montano said, referring to their children, Mia, 16; Ruly, 11; and Tino, 6. "That would be awesome."

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On the Net:

http://www.dichosonline.com

One word:  SHOCKED!  If you liked politics you knew Tim Russert, a leading U.S. political correspondent and host of the NBC television network's long-running "Meet the Press" talk show.  Well he died today, Friday the 13th of a heart attack, the network said. He was 58.  Mr. Russert will be missed, most epecially now that we are in an election year - What a loss

Click photo below to read complete article, from Reuters.