Core Concepts
The lesbian community is severely underrepresented in the LGBTQ+ pride celebrations, with the focus being predominantly on gay male culture.
Abstract
The author, a queer woman, observes the lack of lesbian visibility during the Pride Week celebrations in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The author notes that the Pride festivities were heavily focused on gay male culture, with the advertising materials and the overall atmosphere catering primarily to gay men.
The author describes walking through the "gayborhood" of Puerto Vallarta and encountering only a handful of women, with no clear indication of how many of them were actually part of the queer community. In contrast, the bars, balconies, and streets were filled with gay men, with some establishments even explicitly stating "men only" at their doors.
The author expresses disappointment and frustration at the exclusion of the lesbian community from the Pride celebrations, which are meant to be inclusive of the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum. The author suggests that the dominance of gay male culture within the LGBTQ+ movement has led to the marginalization of other identities, such as lesbians, within these events.
Stats
"On my entire romp through the gayborhood, I crossed paths with maybe around seven women total."
Quotes
"The Puerto Vallarta Pride festivities had been touted as a celebration for the boys. Even the advertising pamphlet showed solely images of four-toned men, without a mention of women or a nod to any other letter of the LGBT community."