CSUN Professor Luis Esparza Marches for 2026 Ocotlán Pride

This summer, CSUN Prfessor Luis Esparza participated in the 2026 Ocotlán Pride March, an event he co-organized and helped raise funds for as a member of the Jotería Transfronteriza Rural collective. Fellow co-founding members and organizers also took part, including Mario Marín of Ocotlán Pride; José Ramón Ramírez of Misiones Culturales; Xaneri Damián of Auténticas Muxes Radicadas en la Ciudad de México; Naohmi and More Santander of the Afro-Tamiauah Collective; and Gali, Álvaro, Lupillo, and Suave of Tototlán Diverso.

Despite the rainy weather, more than 100 participants from across rural Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Veracruz made their presence known throughout the march. The event was monumental in its celebration of Mexico’s rich gender, racial, and cultural diversity. Much of this diversity was made possible through the organizing efforts of Jotería Transfronteriza Rural, which brought together Muxes, Afro-Mexicans, rural trans communities, and N’de Apache people. Their presence underscored the march’s deep-intersectional ethos.

Esparza and their group also marched in honor of José Luis Martínez, a co-founder of Tototlán Diverso who passed away from cancer last year at the young age of 25. Their participation served as a tribute to his life, leadership, and contributions to rural LGBTQ+ organizing in Jalisco.

The march also featured a guest appearance by nationally acclaimed trans activist Kenia Cuevas, who founded Mexico City’s first homeless shelter specifically serving trans people.

The event represented a continuation of the praxis outlined in the article by Luis Esparza, Mario Marín, Geovani Temich, and José Ramón Ramírez, “Transnacionalizando y Transfronterizando: Arte, Expresiones e Iniciativas de la Jotería desde abajo del Globo Sur en México.” In the article, they affirmed their commitment to expanding Jotería Transfronteriza Rural by building alliances with collectives across Mexico and beyond, and this vision became a reality during the 2026 Ocotlán Pride March.

Esparza is a co-founding member of both TotoDiverso and Jotería Transfronteriza Rural, collectives dedicated to organizing and advancing LGBTQ+ advocacy in rural communities throughout Mexico. They have served on the leadership boards of both organizations since 2023.

All photos courtesy of Oscar Lopez.