Fearless Masculinity, a three-day for-profit masculinity conference in Jalisco, will proceed despite controversy over an alleged 400,000-peso subsidy and the temporary appearance of government logos on promotional materials. Rights groups and 35 associations have filed a complaint seeking an investigation, saying the event’s messaging risks reinforcing discriminatory narratives amid high rates of femicide and gender violence. Organizers say the summit aims to strengthen family and community values; several appearances remain unconfirmed.
‘Fearless Masculinity’ Summit to Proceed in Jalisco Despite Public Funding Controversy and Femicides
FILE PHOTO: Eduardo Verastegui speaks during an interview with Reuters, in Mexico City, Mexico September 27, 2023. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File Photo
MEXICO CITY, April 17 — Organizers of a three-day masculinity conference called "Fearless Masculinity" say the event will go ahead on Friday in Jalisco despite mounting public criticism over alleged government subsidies and concerns that the summit promotes traditional Catholic gender roles in one of Mexico's most dangerous states for women.
Contested Funding and Removed Logos
Local reports say a committee approved a subsidy of 400,000 pesos (about $23,170) to help cover speaker fees, lodging and advertising for the for‑profit congress, which sells tickets for up to $430. Promotional materials initially displayed logos from the Jalisco, Guadalajara and Zapopan governments, the private Catholic Anáhuac University Network and the food company Tajín; those emblems were removed within a week.
Speakers and Messaging
The program lists high-profile speakers including writer Jordan Peterson and Mexican actor and right‑wing activist Eduardo Verástegui, both known for advocating traditional gender roles. The organizers also named former FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and former Brazil midfielder Ricardo Kaká as potential participants, though their appearances remain unconfirmed. Several Catholic religious figures are also scheduled to speak. Organizers have described the event as a forum to strengthen family and community values.
Legal And Political Questions
Mexico is constitutionally a secular state, and official sponsorship of religious events is restricted. President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a press briefing that the state governor should explain the apparent use of public resources for an event that emphasizes Catholic ideals.
FILE PHOTO: A man kneels before the Holy Sepulchre during Ash Wednesday Mass marking the beginning of Lent at the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo
"It is deeply concerning that instead of directing resources to address these issues, they are being used for this," Luz León of rights group Balance said, urging an investigation.
Rights Groups File Complaint
Balance and 35 other associations filed a formal complaint asking authorities to clarify what happened with the funding and to investigate any officials involved. Critics say the summit’s framing—promoting a response to an alleged "attack on masculinity"—risks reinforcing discriminatory narratives that can contribute to gender violence.
Context: Gender Violence in Mexico
Official data underscore the scale of the problem: in the first two months of this year, 756 women were violently killed in Mexico (most classified as accidental), some 2,812 people were raped, and emergency services recorded more than 162,000 calls related to gender and domestic violence.
The three-day congress will be held in Guadalajara, a city that is also hosting several World Cup matches in June, and is billed by promoters as Latin America's largest masculinity gathering.
($1 = 17.2665 Mexican pesos)
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