Puerto Vallarta’s prison celebrated its 16th beauty pageant where 10 imprisoned women with female gender presentation and five with male presentation participated, at an event promoting and featuring gender diversity.
Gustavo Solano Lopez, General Inspector of Puerto Vallarta’s prison, explained that it was the participants who decided the theme as a way to celebrate equality without caring about the differences between people.
“The purpose of “Captured Beauty” is that women deprived of their liberty have a safe and healthy place to live together, where they feel supported by administrative and judicial departments, as well as society in general, and this contributes to their rehabilitation and process of placement back in society as part of a “second opportunity,” he declared.
Paco Arjona, executive director of Solidaridad Ed Thomas, A.C. (SETAC) and who was part of the judging panel, congratulated the organization of the event because it openly recognized the rights and identities of all people, without stigma or discrimination.
“It was a moving pageant because we saw gender diversity expressed with total acceptance and respect in a place that’s looking to get people ready again for being part of society as a public service. It’s offering dignified treatment to people with absolute equality,” he recognized.
The event attracted family members, special guests, state and local politicians and members of the LGBTIQ+ community. It consisted of various stages, such as the opening, runways with casual dress, typical dress, and gala or coronation dress, which was especially noteworthy because the participants decorated their dresses representing elements symbolic of Puerto Vallarta, such as El Faro, El Caballito, Los Arcos, and sculptures of Sergio Bustamante, among others.
At the end, Hilda Téllez, general director of the third inspector general of the National Commission for Human Rights, sent a message to the 15 imprisoned participants of the pageant.
“We have been given instructions by our President Rosario Piedra to be near to those persons who use or require our services. Well, here we are, in a current and permanent manner in the penitentiaries and prisons of our country,” she concluded.
