Puerto Vallarta committed to providing education to 600 LGBT students

Puerto Vallarta became the first municipality in the country to establish an inclusive education commitment, by signing a letter of intent between the State Institute for the Education of Young People and Adults (INEEJAD) and the LGBT Collective, with the objective of reducing the lack of education in the LGBT community. At a press conference, Héctor Alfonso Sainz Dávila, director of INEEJAD, pointed out that this is an important step and Jalisco is the first state where an agreement of this nature is established, with hopes to carry it throughout the country. He noted that in Vallarta, they have detected more than 50,000 people lacking a basic education, while 3,000 are in the process of certification, so it is essential to work with all sectors, organizations, employers, as well as with these LGBT population. He specified that this commitment to the LGBT Colectivo, will support a little more than 600 people to complete their basic education, without discrimination, and in the future, he hopes this motivates other members of the LGBT community to complete their studies. The courses to complete basic education will be offered both in classroom settings and online. Approximately 30 people from the LGBT community are currently working with INEEJAD, who are part of this great effort that is being carried out so that more people complete their studies. Héctor Ramírez Betancourt, president of the LGBT Collective, indicated that for the association it is important to sign this agreement because many people in this community do not have their primary and secondary school certificate since being bullied was a factor that contributed to leaving their education. Likewise, he mentioned that they will collaborate so that more people finish with their primary and secondary education and to continue supporting the LGBT population. Finally, he said that a few days ago a series of courses to just over 650 municipal police and 40 academics, to raise awareness about the treatment of the LGBT community, was completed.