News
Nuevo presidente salvadoreño cierra Secretaria de Inclusión Social
Activistas LGBTI demandaron al nuevo gobierno mantener la SIS
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Este pasado sábado en El Salvador se realizó el traspaso presidencial al nuevo presidente electo el 3 de febrero del corriente año con el 53,1 por ciento de los votos, Nayib Bukele, un joven empresario de 37 años, que ha marcó un precedente al romper con el bipartidismo que existía en el país centroamericano.
Con un discurso simbólico, Bukele no habló en temas concretos sobre el trabajo que realizará en su función, sin embargo hizo jurar alzando la mano a los asistentes al traspaso e incluso a televidentes, que defenderían lo conquistado el pasado 3 de febrero.
Otros puntos importantes fueron el salto al protocolo que realizó al comenzar su discurso sin saludar a los diputados de la Asamblea Legislativa, invitados especiales y la representación de países amigos, aclarando que él había llegado a celebrar con el pueblo. De igual manera otro dato a resaltar fueron los minutos que se tomó para dar parte de su discurso en señas, mostrando así un poco de la inclusión que se espera mantenga en su gobierno.
Inclusión que la Federación Salvadoreña LGBTI demanda se mantenga y continúe avanzando como en los dos Gobiernos pasados, por ello exigieron “mantener y fortalecer la Dirección de Diversidad Sexual de la Secretaría de Inclusión Social (SIS), ampliando su mandato en la promoción de políticas públicas inclusivas y normativas legales para a garantía y defensa de los derechos humanos de la población LGBTI”, mencionaron en parte de las demandas del pronunciamiento socializado por la Federación Salvadoreña LGBTI.
Además pidieron conservar el Decreto Ejecutivo No 56, que prohíbe toda forma de discriminación por orientación sexual, identidad y expresión de género en el Órgano Ejecutivo, entre otras demandas que tienen que ver con la defensa y protección de los derechos humanos de la población LGBTI.
Al siguiente día del traspaso, Bukele se reunió con el Consejo de Ministros de su nuevo gabinete, los cuales por unanimidad reformaron el reglamento para suprimir la Secretaría Técnica de la Presidencia, la Secretaría de Gobernabilidad, la Secretaría de Participación, Transparencia y Anticorrupción, la Secretaría de Vulnerabilidad y la Secretaría de Inclusión Social, en esta última se encuentra la Dirección de Diversidad Sexual, la cual ha sido un logro en los últimos gobiernos para la población LGBTI.
Ante este anuncio dado a conocer en redes sociales, algunos activistas se pronunciaron en las mismas, “tomando en cuenta que las personas LGBTI estamos contempladas en el Plan Cuscatlán, y para evitar incertidumbre en la población respecto a la desaparición de la SIS, deseo respetuosamente preguntarle: ¿Qué sucederá con la dirección de diversidad?”, fue la pregunta que realizó el activista y director del portal LGBTI El Salvador G, Nicolas Rodríguez.
A lo cual en otro tweet el presidente de la república contestó que esta dirección sería asumida por el Ministerio de Cultura, externando a su vez que tuvieran paciencia pues solamente llevaba 36 horas en el gobierno.
A lo cual la actual Ministra de Cultura, Suecy Callejas Estrada contestó vía tweet, “Gracias Presidente, nosotros tenemos clara la misión de generar y ejecutar políticas públicas claras que sean en pro de la protección de los derechos humanos. Los cambios culturales son más difíciles de lograr, pero los que sí perduran. ¡Bienvenida la diversidad!”.
Es notable que la forma de comunicación del nuevo presidente de El Salvador será diferentes a las de otros políticos, esto lo dejó claro desde los tiempos de campaña electoral, haciendo todo anuncio sobre la misma y utilizando como medio oficial para informar todo sobre su candidatura por medio de sus redes sociales.
Seguirán habiendo cambios en las diferentes dependencias y los activistas LGBTI estarán contralores de estas decisiones que pueden afectar o no, los avances y alianzas de colaboración que se habían establecido hasta la fecha, “Sí habrán momentos difíciles, pero espero que me acompañen a tomar esas decisiones con valentía”, fueron parte de las palabras en el primer discurso como presidente de Bukele.
Federal Government
Markwayne Mullin confirmed as next DHS secretary
Okla. senator to succeed Kristi Noem
The U.S. Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as the next secretary of Homeland Security on Monday, as the agency continues to grapple with what lawmakers have described as a “never-ending” funding standoff, with Democrats attempting to withhold funding from one of the nation’s largest and most costly agencies.
Mullin — a Republican senator from Oklahoma, former mixed martial arts fighter, and plumbing business owner — was confirmed in a 54–45 vote. Two Democrats — U.S. Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) — sided with Republicans in supporting his confirmation.
The new agency head is expected to follow the policy direction set by President Donald Trump, emphasizing stricter immigration enforcement. This includes proposals to support immigration agents at polling sites and to cut funding to so-called “sanctuary cities.”
Mullin replaces Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month following a widely scrutinized 2-day congressional hearing on Capitol Hill.
During the hearing, Noem faced intense questioning over her response to several crises, including the fatal shooting of two American citizens in Minneapolis by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, a $220 million border security advertising campaign that featured her on horseback near Mount Rushmore amid one of the largest federal workforce reductions in U.S. history, and the federal response to major natural disasters such as the July 2025 Texas floods and Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Noem had previously drawn criticism for a series of policy decisions in South Dakota that broadly focused on restricting the rights of LGBTQ individuals. In 2023, she signed House Bill 1080, banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. She also signed legislation and executive orders restricting trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports, as well as the state’s “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” which critics argued enabled discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. Additionally, the state canceled contracts related to LGBTQ support services — including suicide prevention and health care navigation programs‚ and later agreed to a $300,000 settlement with trans advocacy group, The Transformation Project.
Despite her removal from DHS, Noem will remain in the Trump-Vance administration as a special envoy for the “Shield of the Americas,” an initiative aimed at promoting U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere, including efforts to counter cartel networks, reduce Chinese influence, and manage migration.
The new head of DHS has served in Congress since 2013, in both houses of the federal legislature. While in the Senate and a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Mullin has been a vocal critic of policies aimed at expanding LGBTQ inclusion. He led a group of lawmakers in urging the Administration for Community Living to reverse a rule requiring states to prioritize Older Americans Act services based on sexual orientation and gender identity, arguing the policy could have unintended consequences.
Mullin also makes history as the first Native American — and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation — to lead the Department of Homeland Security. He was also among the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results despite no evidence of widespread fraud, and was present in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber on Jan. 6.
A gay man was murdered in Petersburg, Va., on March 13.
Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray, who was also known as Saamel and Mable, was a drag queen who won the Miss Mayflower EOY pageant in 2015. Reports also indicate Sanchez-McCray, 42, was a well-known community activist in Virginia and in North Carolina.
Local media reports indicate police officers found Sanchez-McCray shot to death inside a home in Petersburg.
Sanchez-McCray’s brother, Jamal Mitchell Diamond, in a public statement the Washington Blade received from Equality Virginia and GLAAD, said Sanchez-McCray was not transgender as initial reports indicated.
“Our family has always embraced the fullness of who he was. He used the names Saamel, Shyyell, and Mable interchangeably, and we honor all of them. There is no division within our family regarding how he is being represented — only a shared commitment to preserving his truth with love and respect,” said Diamond.
“He was also deeply committed to community work through Nationz Foundation, where he worked and completed multiple state-certified programs to support marginalized communities,” added Diamond. “That work meant a great deal to him.”
Authorities have not made any arrests.
The Petersburg Bureau of Police has asked anyone with information about Sanchez-McCray’s murder to call Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212.
District of Columbia
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Rally on the National Mall scheduled for Saturday
The Christopher Street Project has a number of events planned for the 2026 Trans Day of Visibility, including a rally on the Mall and an “Empowerment Ball” at the Eaton Hotel. Plenaries, panel discussions and meetings with members of Congress are scheduled in the three days of programming.
Announced speakers include N.H. state Rep. Alice Wade; Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Precious Brady-Davis; activist and performer Miss Peppermint (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”); Lexington, Ky. Councilwoman Emma Curtis; Rabbi Abby Stein; D.C. activist and host Rayceen Pendarvis; Air Force Master Sgt. Logan Ireland; among other leaders, advocates and performers.
Conference programming on Thursday and Friday includes an educational forum and a Capitol Hill policy education day. Registration for the two-day conference has closed.
The “Trans Day of Visibility PAC Reception” is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 7:30-9 p.m. at As You Are (500 8th St., S.E.). Special guests include Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). Tickets are available at christopherstreetproject.org starting at $25.
The National Council of Jewish Women and the Christopher Street Project host a “Trans Day of Visibility Shabbat” on Friday, March 27 from 7-8 p.m. at Sixth & I (600 I St., N.W.). The service is to be led by Rabbi Jenna Shaw and Rabbi Abby Stein.
The “Now You See Me: Trans Empowerment Social & Ball” is scheduled for Friday, March 27 from 6-11 p.m. at the Eaton Hotel (1201 K. St., N.W.). The trans-themed drag ball is hosted by the Marsha P. Johnson Institute with support from the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, the Capital Ballroom Council, the Christopher Street Project, the Center for Black Equity, Generation for Common Good, and Parenting is Political. RSVP online at christopherstreetproject.org.
The National Transgender Day of Visibility Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 on the National Mall at 11 a.m. The rally will include speakers and performances. Following the rally, attendees are encouraged to participate in the “No Kings” rally being held at Anacostia Park.
Markwayne Mullin confirmed as next DHS secretary
Gay man murdered in Va.
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Polish court rules country must recognize same-sex marriages from EU states
Queer American in Israel discusses Iran war’s impact
Calendar: March 21-26
‘How We Survived’ panel set for March 25
Small is beautiful: subcompact SUVs
