Zapotec 'muxes' mix with Mexico City gay community

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Transgender, transvestite and gay men are often encouraged to follow their lifestyle in the indigenous culture of southern Mexico.

In this June 29, 2013 photo, Ivonne, a muxe, rides in a taxi to a party in Mexico City. Muxes or Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women, living in Mexico City, gathered to share their traditions at a community party or "vela," as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, a city of Zapotecs in the southern state of Oaxaca. Gay men, transvestites and transgender people are generally accepted in Juchitan and often work as home helpers, embroiderers, decorators, cooks and entertainers. According to anthropological studies, some women in Juchitan encourage sons' muxe leanings because they tend to stay home and care for their parents rather than get married. (AP Photo/Gabriela Sanchez)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, Ivonne, a muxe, shades her eyebrows as she prepares for a party in Mexico City. A group of Zapotec indigenous men, living in the capital, who dress and behave in ways associated with women and known as muxes, gathered for the community party called a "vela" to share their traditions. The contact between muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays), and the gay community in Mexico City has led to the fusion of urban and indigenous cultures and it was "important to have this party to rescue our culture, to rescue who we are and show the rest of the people in this city how we live our sexuality, how we exercise our rights," said David Kelvin, who organized the vela. (AP Photo/Gabriela Sanchez)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, Thanya Mimosa, a muxe, prepares her outfit before attending a gathering of muxes in Mexico City. Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays), as Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women are known, gathered for a "vela," as community parties are called in Juchitan, in the southern state of Oaxaca, to share their traditions with others in the capital. Most donned Tehuana dresses, popularized around the world by Mexican artist Friday Kahlo, and many wore traditional large gold earrings and necklaces and a "resplandor," a headdress made from a starched veil placed around the face that creates a type of halo. (AP Photo/Gabriela Sanchez)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, Ivonne, a muxe, right, greets another muxe with a kiss during party in Mexico City. Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women, from Juchitan in Oaxaca state, known as muxes, but who live in the capital, gathered for the community party called a "vela" to share their traditions. The contact between muxes and the gay community in Mexico City has led to the fusion of urban and indigenous cultures and it was "important to have this party to rescue our culture, to rescue who we are and show the rest of the people in this city how we live our sexuality, how we exercise our rights," said David Kelvin, who organized the vela. (AP Photo/Gabriela Sanchez)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, muxes, Yadira, left, Rubi, center, and Gema, prepare for a party in Mexico City. Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays), as Zapotec indigenous homosexuals are known, gathered in the Mexican capital to share their traditions at a community party or "vela," as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, a city of Zapotecs in the southern state of Oaxaca. It was a party to have fun but also an opportunity to reaffirm the muxes presence in the capital and celebrate their traditions from back home, said David Kelvin, who organized the vela. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, Thanya Mimosa, left, a muxe, prepares to attend a party in Mexico City. Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays), Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women, gathered for a community party or "vela" as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, to share their traditions in the Mexican capital. Most muxes donned Tehuana dresses, popularized around the world by Mexican artist Friday Kahlo, and many wore traditional large gold earrings and necklaces. (AP Photo/Gabriela Sanchez)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, a muxe, center right, embraces a man at a party of muxes, as Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women are known, in Mexico City. Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays), living in Mexico City gathered last weekend for a "vela," as community parties are called in the Zapotec city of Juchitan in the southern state of Oaxaca, to share their traditions. Muxes are generally accepted in Juchitan and often work as home helpers, embroiderers, decorators, cooks and entertainers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, muxes, as Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women are known, pose for a photo at a party in Mexico City. Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays) living in Mexico City gathered to share their traditions at a community party or "vela," as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, a city of Zapotecs in the southern state of Oaxaca. "Muxes are a blessing from God because they look after you when you are sick more than a woman would," said Vicenta Toledo, who attended the party with her gay son. "They are a very important part of life." (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, a person known as a muxe, center, poses for a photo at a party in Mexico City. Zapotec indigenous homosexual men known as muxes gathered last weekend for a "vela," as community parties are called in the Zapotec city of Juchitan in the southern state of Oaxaca, to share their traditions with people in the Mexican capital. According to anthropological studies, some women in Juchitan encourage sons' muxe leanings because they tend to stay home and care for their parents rather than getting married. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, muxes, as Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women are known, gather for a party in Mexico City. Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays) living in Mexico City gathered to share their traditions at a community party or "vela," as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, a city of Zapotecs in the southern state of Oaxaca. A cumbia band played while the singer invited people sitting and talking at tables packed with food and drinks to dance. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, a Zapotec indigenous man who dresses and behaves in ways associated with women known as a muxe, back to camera, dances with a man at a party in Mexico City. A group of Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays), living in Mexico City gathered to share their traditions at a community party or "vela," as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, a city of Zapotecs in the southern state of Oaxaca. Gay men, transvestites and transgender people are generally accepted in Juchitan and often work as home helpers, embroiderers, decorators, cooks and entertainers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this June 29, 2013 photo, a Muxe, center, dances at a party of Muxes, as Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women are known, in Mexico City. Muxes, (pronounced MOO-shays) living in Mexico City gathered to share their traditions at a community party or "vela," as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, a city of Zapotecs in the southern state of Oaxaca. Gay men, transvestites and transgender people are generally accepted in Juchitan and often work as home helpers, embroiderers, decorators, cooks and entertainers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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In this June 29, 2013 photo, Ivonne, a muxe, rides in a taxi to a party in Mexico City. Muxes or Zapotec indigenous men who dress and behave in ways associated with women, living in Mexico City, gathered to share their traditions at a community party or "vela," as the event is called in their hometown Juchitan, a city of Zapotecs in the southern state of Oaxaca. Gay men, transvestites and transgender people are generally accepted in Juchitan and often work as home helpers, embroiderers, decorators, cooks and entertainers. According to anthropological studies, some women in Juchitan encourage sons' muxe leanings because they tend to stay home and care for their parents rather than get married. (AP Photo/Gabriela Sanchez)

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