LGBTQ+ Activists Urge End to Homophobic Chant at Mexico Soccer Matches

Mexico City, September 3 (AP): In a bid to tackle the persistence of a homophobic chant during national soccer team matches, LGBTQ+ activists in Mexico are now appealing directly to fans to end this practice ahead of the World Cup next summer.

The chant, which involves a slur that translates to 'male prostitute' in Spanish, gained notoriety during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Despite hefty fines—including 100,000 Swiss francs (approximately $114,000 at the time) for incidents during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—the issue remains unresolved.

"Those fines have achieved nothing, and the federation’s efforts have been ineffective," expressed Andoni Bello, an LGBTQ+ activist and outspoken critic of the chant. Bello, who has played in amateur soccer tournaments organized by the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, stressed the urgency for change.

As the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare to host the 2026 World Cup, with Mexico staging 13 matches across Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara, the spotlight is on this issue once more. The infamous chant first surfaced during a 2004 Olympic qualifier between Mexico and the U.S. in Jalisco's capital, Guadalajara, eventually spreading nationwide.

The slur typically rings out when the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick, becoming more frequent when Mexico is trailing in a match. "I’m deeply concerned about the violence visible in stadiums, which remains unseen and often anonymous," Bello stated. "This normalized aggression fuels homophobic hate crimes across the country."

Initially, the Mexican soccer federation claimed that the chant wasn't targeted at the LGBTQ+ community, suggesting it carried a different meaning culturally. However, this stance shifted over time, with social campaigns launched to combat the chant, albeit with limited success. Presently, fans are merely asked not to chant at matches.

Despite implementing a policy in 2022 threatening fans who shout the slur with five-year stadium bans, enforcement remains lax. "The federation sought to reinterpret the term. It’s unmistakably homophobic," Bello emphasized.

The call to action now involves sponsors, institutions, players, teams, and fans, urging a shift in how people perceive others' sexuality. In collaboration with Calma Comunidad, a non-profit dedicated to sexual education, and Mexico’s National Council to Prevent Discrimination, Bello plans to engage top-tier teams and fan clubs through pre-World Cup workshops.

"This presents a unique opportunity to drive significant change," remarked David Moncada of Calma Comunidad. Bello further clarified that the initiative doesn't aim to dampen stadium enthusiasm, but to eliminate the use of homophobic language. "I want my team to win and for the opposition to feel the stadium's pressure, but homophobic remarks are unnecessary," Bello concluded.

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