López Obrador apologizes for calling trans representative Salma Luévano “Mr. dressed as a woman”

President López Obrador has asked the trans Morena representative Salma Luévano for an apology for misgendering her and referring to her as “man dressed as a woman.” The president began this Tuesday's morning conference by referring to his words yesterday: “I want to begin by offering an apology to a colleague who identifies as a woman and yesterday I spoke about how she was a man dressed as a woman. “I am very respectful and I believe in freedom and people should take responsibility, anyone, however they identify,” the president expressed.

The president made the mistake during the morning conference on Monday, when he tried to defend himself against the criticism leveled against him, given the strange reaction he had when he crossed paths with the representative at an event in Yucatán. “I also kiss men,” he said without realizing the misgendering he was committing, by treating the legislator with masculine pronouns. Luévano, the first trans woman to reach the Chamber of Deputies along with her partner María Clemente, has reiterated that she wants to be named with female pronouns. “If I gave my opinion on this issue it is because I consider that love has no sex, it is above everything. It's like freedom. [Quiero] offer an apology and send a hug to this colleague,” López Obrador continued.

Minutes later, the deputy herself echoed the president's words and recognized the gesture. “Today President López Obrador offered me an apology for misgendering me. This declaration is very important, because it makes visible a fight that has taken us decades. I am a woman, diputrans and that is not up for discussion. Now to wait for the president to receive me,” she wrote online.

Luévano has indicated that he will continue “fighting for the human rights” of his population. “Having a trans woman come to these decision-making spaces normalizes what is normal. By educating, she raises awareness, if she raises awareness she creates empathy and by creating empathy she helps lower all hate crime statistics. That is why we cannot allow that door that has already been opened to be closed again,” said the deputy in an interview with this newspaper.

The president's apologies have been well received among various users and people related to Morena, the president's party. “The recognition and apology expressed by the Pte @lopezobrador_ to the deputy @SalmaLuevanocalls us to the responsibility of respecting the diversity and identity of everyone, especially from public service in order to guarantee all rights for all people,” wrote the Secretary of Social Development of Sonora, Wendy Briceño.

There are also those who have recalled that the president's words are reminiscent of those spoken by the conservative deputy Gabriel Quadri in the Chamber of Deputies in 2022. Precisely, the PAN member referred to Salma Luévano: “Mr. dressed as a woman.” On that occasion, the Electoral Court determined that the statements were an attack of hate against the entire transgender community and he was sentenced not to attend elections for four years. Quadri was also registered on the list of political aggressors against women based on gender and apologized to the deputy through her Twitter account.

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