CHIAPAS — A recent study conducted in the Mexican state of Chiapas highlights the persistent challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, finding that more than half of surveyed individuals have had to conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity due to fear of social rejection.
The research, published in the Latinoamerican Journal of Distance Education (2026), focused on three key municipalities: Ocosingo, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The findings reveal a stark reality: 58% of respondents reported hiding their identity at some point in their lives, while 57% reported receiving negative or offensive comments from people outside the community.
The study was conducted by Areli Gómez Gómez, Jesús Isaí Figueroa Rodríguez, and David Enrique Gómez Guillén—students of Nursing and Obstetrics at the Universidad para el Bienestar Benito Juárez García—under the guidance of bioethics specialist Edrin David Padias Hernández.
The Impact on “Personal Projection”
The research team surveyed 140 members of the LGBTQ+ community who participated voluntarily. The questionnaire, based on an instrument from the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (Conapred), aimed to measure two primary factors: experiences of discrimination and their effect on “personal projection”—the ability of individuals to plan for their future and set life goals with freedom.
The results presented a complex paradox of resilience. Despite the pervasive discrimination, the majority of participants reported a high level of self-acceptance. Approximately 66% stated they were happy with their sexual orientation, and 27% said they accepted themselves as they are. On a satisfaction scale of 0 to 10, 78% of the participants rated their self-satisfaction between 8 and 10.
However, the authors noted that the lived experience of rejection, isolation, and verbal aggression leads to lower self-esteem and a sense of division. They also detected a lack of solidarity within some segments of the community, which they argue weakens the collective response against external discrimination.
Local vs. National Trends
The findings align with broader trends in Mexico. According to the 2022 National Survey on Discrimination (ENADIS) conducted by INEGI, 37.3% of the country’s LGBTQ+ population reported being discriminated against in the preceding 12 months. This was the highest percentage among all demographic groups measured by the survey. In comparison, the national average for the general adult population was 23.7%, with Chiapas showing a lower average of 18.9%.
Methodological Context
While the study is a significant contribution to the region, the authors noted certain limitations. Because the 140 participants were recruited voluntarily and through convenience sampling, the results reflect the specific experiences of that group rather than the entire LGBTQ+ population of Chiapas. Additionally, the study did not break down figures by specific age groups or identities, nor did it provide a municipal comparison between Ocosingo and the larger cities.
Nevertheless, the study is notable for being one of the few recent pieces of research to gather direct data from LGBTQ+ individuals in Chiapas, specifically including rural and indigenous areas like Ocosingo. The researchers conclude by calling for reinforced human rights education, increased sensitivity training, and the strengthening of community and family support networks.