The Third Gender in Southern Mexico
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“In the Istmo de Tehuantepec region in Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca, there are three genders: female, male and muxes”.
Since pre-Hispanic times this third gender classification has been celebrated by the people of this region. The indigenous Zapotec language spoken in the area has no grammatical genders forms, just one for all people. Muxes have important traditional roles in their community as care givers, creators, educators and leaders. This traditional division of three genders as a natural and celebrated way of being has inspired the LGBT people all over the world.
Each November a celebration takes place for muxes in Juchitán de Zaragoza, a small town on the Istmo de Tehuantepec, read more about it in the BBC article here.