Pride, tourism and sexual diversity in Manzanillo, Mexico: event appraisal and reported experiences of discrimination

Abstract

The favorable appraisal of Pride events does not necessarily reflect the absence of discriminatory experiences among their participants, highlighting the need to examine their contribution to social inclusion from a critical perspective. The objective of this study was to examine participants' perceptions of the contribution of Pride Manzanillo to promoting respect for sexual and gender diversity, while considering their experiences of discrimination. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted through face-to-face surveys administered to adults attending the event. The collected data were examined using descriptive analyses and statistical tests of association to identify potential relationships between the variables under study. The results revealed a predominantly favorable assessment of the event as a space for promoting respect and diversity. However, a considerable proportion of participants reported having experienced discrimination. Such experiences were more frequent among those who identified as members of the LGBT+ community, although no statistically significant association was found between the appraisal of the event and reported experiences of discrimination. These findings indicate that positive perceptions of sociocultural events and experiences of exclusion represent distinct dimensions of social reality. It is concluded that, although Pride events may contribute to the visibility and recognition of sexual and gender diversity, their favorable appraisal should not be interpreted as sufficient evidence of social inclusion or used as an isolated indicator of respect, equity, and non-discrimination conditions within tourism destinations.