Gay couple from LGBT migrant caravan marry in Tijuana
Pedro and Erick are the first LGBT couple to marry from the migrant caravan (Twitter/SarahKinosian)
A gay couple from an LGBT+ migrant caravan from central America married in an emotional ceremony in Tijuana.
Pedro and Erick tied the knot in front of journalists and human rights workers on Saturday.
Freelance journalist Sarah Kinosian, who is based in central American, shared a video of the pair kissing after the wedding.
She wrote: “Congrats to Erick and Pedro! The first LGBT+ couple of seven from the migrant caravan to get married today.”
The ceremony was officiated by two women and appears to have taken place in front of a rainbow backdrop.
The men are overcome with emotion as they hug in front of onlookers.
Congrats to Erick and Pedro! The first LGBT couple of 7 from the migrant caravan to get married today. pic.twitter.com/6t3Snt6jZV
— Sarah Kinosian (@skinosian) November 18, 2018
Hundreds of central American migrants reached the Mexican border city of Tijuana after travelling across the country.
LGBT migrant caravan
A group of LGBT+ migrants broke away from the larger group in Mexico City, the BBC reported.
Those who have arrived at Tijuana are believed to have fled persecution, violence and poverty in their home countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
César Mejía, a representative of the caravan’s LGBT+ asylum seekers, told Spanish news agency EFE they decided to rent private buses with the support of LGBT+ rights groups, to complete the last stretch of the journey.
Mejía said the group wanted to avoid being sidelined.
LGBT+ asylum seekers migrants celebrate their arrival in Tijuana, Mexico, on November 11, 2018. (Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty)
“Bathing was a big problem, even when we wanted to shower there was no water. Same with food,” said the 23-year-old Honduran native, who fled after being beaten for being gay by local gang members.
Mejía said that while there had been no physical violence along the caravan journey, LGBT+ asylum seekers faced verbal abuse.
“People wouldn’t let us into trucks, they made us get in the back of the line for showers, they would call us ugly names,” Erick Dubon, who is also Honduran and was travelling with his boyfriend Pedro Nehemias, told The Washington Post.
