Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, has ascended to the presidency of Mexico, stirring conversations about progressive ideologies in the Latin America region. Celebrated as the first female president of Mexico, Sheinbaum, a self-proclaimed “climate scientist,” clinched a landslide victory with almost 60% of the votes counted.
Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalized abortion last year, and even though 19 states have not incorporated these changes into their penal codes, Sheinbaum indicated that she guarantees access to “sexual and reproductive health” for women – a phrase often seen synonymous with access to abortions – if elected.
In addition to abortion rights, Sheinbaum has also demonstrated her support for the LGBT community; she championed the legalization of same-sex marriage and took part in the city’s LGBT “pride” parade, the first Mexico City mayor to do so.
As a secular Jew leading the majority-Catholic country, Sheinbaum has been cautious in walking the tightrope, handling controversial issues like transgender rights. However, she’s known to support “sexually diverse” ideologies, which signals she may be supportive of a broader range of LGBT identities. Given Sheinbaum’s public record and declared views, pro-abortion groups and the LGBT movement feel optimistic about the potential advancement of their causes in Mexico.