Death of Jesús Ociel Baena: Mexico's Historic Non-Binary Judge Discovered Deceased

Jesús Ociel Baena, Mexico's first openly non-binary member of the judiciary and a prominent LGBTQ+ activist, has been found dead at their home in the city of Aguascalientes. The body of Baena was discovered alongside that of their partner. The authorities are uncertain whether the incident was a homicide or an accident. Initial investigations suggest that it may have been a personal matter, as there were no signs of a third person entering the house. Baena had reportedly received numerous hate messages and threats of violence and death. LGBTQ+ rights group Letra S has called for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the deaths. Baena, who used they/them pronouns, had been breaking barriers for the non-binary community and recently became a magistrate for the Aguascalientes state electoral court. They were also one of the first individuals to be issued a gender-neutral passport in June. A vigil was held in Mexico City to commemorate Baena, and activists emphasized the importance of continuing their legacy. Arturo Zaldivar, the former chief justice of Mexico's Supreme Court, expressed his profound sadness over the loss of Baena, acknowledging their significant contributions to equality and LGBTQ+ rights.