Gay Games 2023: A Turning Point for Guadalajara

It’s official! Guadalajara, the state capital of Jalisco, Mexico, together with Hong Kong, will co-host the 11th Gay Games on November 3-11, 2023. This will be the first Gay Games in Latin America, and a major turning point for Mexico’s often overlooked LGBTQ+ community.

Competition to host the games was intense with 17 cities expressing interest and 11 submitting a formal bid. Initially, one of the three finalists to host the 2026 games, Guadalajara captured the Gay Games Federation’s attention because of its proximity to North American participants and its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes at a time when tourism in Hong Kong remains handicapped by the government’s adherence to strict quarantines and travel bans.

The Hong Kong games have been heavily criticized by local politicians. In mainland China, the LGBTQ community has seen a state-run media attack on “effeminate men,” the shutdown of  WeChat accounts of LGBTQ university students, and pressured streaming platforms to censor references to a lesbian character from the NBC sitcom Friends.

This just isn’t the case in Guadalajara where the LGBTQ community and government entities are working together to rally support for the games because they see this eight-day event as a catalyst for tourism development, cultural advancement, and community pride. 

I recently sat down with Alex Serratos ­– the owner of the restaurant Peligro al Fondo, an LGBTQ+ activist and advocate – who shared his thoughts on what makes Guadalajara not just a great city to host the games but an awesome city for queer travelers. 

“Guadalajara is authentic. The people are friendly. The people are good-looking. We’re open to everybody, from all backgrounds. We want to connect and have a good experience. We work to share what we do and who we are. You can feel the difference in Guadalajara,” said Serratos.

Jalisco state is home to two popular queer destinations – Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. A gay insider at the Ministry of Tourism, who wanted to keep their identity secret, explained, “Hosting events that embrace plurality and differences; that celebrate diversity and inclusion is very important… in addition to making the LGBTQ+ community visible, they reinforce the importance of our destinations for this segment.”

So, what should gamers and athletic supporters expect in Guadalajara? I asked the locals and here are a few favorites:

• Celebrate the Day of the Dead. The Gay Games are taking place during the first week of November, a time when Mexicans celebrate the deceased with vibrant floral displays, colorful costumes, face painting, parades, and music.
  
  
• Guadalajara is an industrial hub for wigs, weaves, heels, and sequins. Make time for a local drag or travesti show.
  
  
• Indulge in the local nightlife. According to Alex Serratos, visitors will be able to indulge in themed nights at local clubs, sexy pool parties, fetish events, dark rooms, and much more.
  
  
• Try the local cuisine. If you see people gathering, there’s good food nearby. Forget looking at the menu; smell what’s coming from the kitchen and ask for local recommendations. Visit Peligro Al Fondo, Alex’s hip restaurant in the Colonia Americana, and pick up a local guide to the city.
  
  
• Think ahead and try this local hangover cure. The torta ahogada is a delicious Mexican sandwich filled with mouthwatering carnitas and drowned in red chile and tomato sauce! Perfect for the morning after a wild night out.
  
  
• Explore Colonia Americana. This charming, upscale neighborhood is bursting with designer boutiques, local arts, coffee shops, and sidewalk cafes.
  
  
• Make new friends. As Alex pointed out, “open the apps and find hundreds of others within two or three blocks,” or simply strike up a conversation with the locals. You’ll have “plenty of opportunities to meet new people from Latin America, the States, everywhere.”

For more information to help you plan your LGBTQ-friendly vacation or holiday to Guadalajara, check out the Visit Guadalajara website. Listen to Stephen’s full interview with restaurant owner and LGBTQ+ activist Alex Serratos here.