Patria Jimenez was born in San Luis Potosi in 1957. She began her activism in her high school years, actively protesting the lack of essential resources for secondary school students. When recalling her realization that she was a lesbian, she argues that she "was never in the closet" (1). She attended evening parties after her realization of her sexuality, but these parties often posed dangerous with the drugs and alcohol provided to the attendees. She "always liked" (1) going to social events, but the events were in the ghettos because there was nowhere else to meet without fear of retaliation.
Patria Jimenez’s whole life has been a struggle. Since she was in high school, she has been actively practicing her ability to protest and make change in the world. Her first obstacle in life involved her parents. She never had a defining moment of realization about her sexuality, it simply was just a fact of her life that she felt little desire to share. However, her parents held the belief that homosexuality was a psychological issue, instead of a lifestyle. Their lack of acceptance drove Jimenez to consider other options for living. At a young age, Jimenez left home to avoid being sent to a psychiatrist to try to “cure” her homosexuality. This obstacle proved very difficult for her, as she loves her family dearly, she just can’t live in close quarters with them. The turning point in her life is within her decision to leave her family in order to pursue activism for the LGBT community. She chose a large community of people and their chance at equal rights, over the love her family could have given her had she only suppressed her lifestyle for the rest of her life.
Shortly after, Jimenez participated in her first demonstration; A protest against the assassination of Iranian women for removing their headdresses. She recalls that she "unfurled...a big sign saying 'Mexican Lesbians Against the Assassination of Iranian Women'" in front of the Iranian Embassy. (1)
Jimenez ran for Congress in 1997, during a time in Mexico where major controversy raged about the rights for homosexuals. In her campaign, she was very open about her sexuality, running with the slogan ‘Safe Sex, Save Vote – Make the Future Yours!’ It wasn’t only the popular vote that she needed, she first needed the support of a political party – and that party turned out to be the Party of Democratic Revolution. They basically promised her a seat in Congress if the party won the popular vote, which would prove to be a difficult feat considering the extent of conservatism and belief in Catholicism that Mexico held. However, the Party of Democratic Revolution indeed won 36% of central Mexico, enough to get Jimenez into Congress. This event led to fantastic changes toward the acceptance of the LGBT community in Mexico, let alone a major victory for Patria Jimenez.
Patria Jimenez’s whole life has been a struggle. Since she was in high school, she has been actively practicing her ability to protest and make change in the world. Her first obstacle in life involved her parents. She never had a defining moment of realization about her sexuality, it simply was just a fact of her life that she felt little desire to share. However, her parents held the belief that homosexuality was a psychological issue, instead of a lifestyle. Their lack of acceptance drove Jimenez to consider other options for living. At a young age, Jimenez left home to avoid being sent to a psychiatrist to try to “cure” her homosexuality. This obstacle proved very difficult for her, as she loves her family dearly, she just can’t live in close quarters with them. The turning point in her life is within her decision to leave her family in order to pursue activism for the LGBT community. She chose a large community of people and their chance at equal rights, over the love her family could have given her had she only suppressed her lifestyle for the rest of her life.
Shortly after, Jimenez participated in her first demonstration; A protest against the assassination of Iranian women for removing their headdresses. She recalls that she "unfurled...a big sign saying 'Mexican Lesbians Against the Assassination of Iranian Women'" in front of the Iranian Embassy. (1)
Jimenez ran for Congress in 1997, during a time in Mexico where major controversy raged about the rights for homosexuals. In her campaign, she was very open about her sexuality, running with the slogan ‘Safe Sex, Save Vote – Make the Future Yours!’ It wasn’t only the popular vote that she needed, she first needed the support of a political party – and that party turned out to be the Party of Democratic Revolution. They basically promised her a seat in Congress if the party won the popular vote, which would prove to be a difficult feat considering the extent of conservatism and belief in Catholicism that Mexico held. However, the Party of Democratic Revolution indeed won 36% of central Mexico, enough to get Jimenez into Congress. This event led to fantastic changes toward the acceptance of the LGBT community in Mexico, let alone a major victory for Patria Jimenez.
Present Activity
Jimenez has continued her activism even into her older years. In the photo on the right, she is seen speaking to the International Conference on Gay Rights in Montreal in 2006. She also continues to organize marches and other forms of demonstrations to show the growing support for gay rights all over the world. She has spread out to helping other states who still suppress the movement for LGBT rights, and is progressively making positive changes in these states. She continues to be politically involved in other issues, such as women's rights, worker's rights, and the abortion controversy. She is 55 years old.