At the end of last month in Mexicospecifically in the state of Hidalgo, a newscast reported that a group of cosplayers had denounced discrimination in a shopping center in the city of Pachuca. The news was shared with a video recorded by one of those affected, who in his narration explains that the group was attempting to enter the shopping plaza wearing their outfits, but were held up at the entrance.
In the chronicle, the employee in charge of security can be heard commenting: «What happens is that when they enter with wigs, that is, it is not allowed». The cosplayer group wonders why and clarifies: «We do not come to give an event, we come to consume». And another attacks: «And why don’t they tell those who dress up as Mario Bros to see the movie?».
It seems that the person in charge of security is cornered, so she ignores the causes and explains: «They only told me to keep them here pending». There is a cut in the recording and we can see that someone in charge of the administration has arrived to attend to the situation. The presenter, in fact, affirms that the group presented the complaint to the State Human Rights Commission, who determined that there was indeed discrimination by the personnel of the facilitiesand demanded that the mall disclose its rules.
It is evident that cosplay culture is not widespread throughout the world, and although it is generally accepted in Japan, in other countries it is still not common for people to walk through squares with wigs, contact lenses and extravagant outfits. This also explains why the comments that the original publication of the report received were not so positive:
- «That is why Pachuca does not stop being a ranch. Poorly trained police officers and monitoring personnel without criteria. That would help the square a lot by making many more come to have a good time. So they don’t even want to go to that square».
- «What a shame to be dressed like that».
- «It is that no one has the cosplay that he wears».
- «They already made a mess and they continue to suck with the same thing, what a shame to say that you like anime or that you like cosplay for people like her. Because of her that she always has problems in her work, that she doesn’t deal with clients, if they really knew Ciel».
- «What a bad plan with those security people. Raise your voice, go massively in cosplay to all the squares of Mexico».
- «Mediocre police and plaza».
- «Always everywhere there are bitter people».
- «I think for security it makes sense. Just like here in Colombia it is forbidden to enter any place with the motorcycle case on. It is also forbidden to enter with any type of disguise that prevents distinguishing your identity».
- «Regardless of whether they are clothed or not, what justification did they have for doing so? Was there a law that allowed them?».
But things did not stay that way, after this the community of cosplayers in the area organized a protest on the outskirts of the facilities, holding a sit-in and demanding to speak with the person in charge of the shopping mall. And they succeeded, the administrator of the place offered “an apology to the cosplayer community” for the facts that, according to her, they strongly rejected. According to the person in charge, the person who took the case had a lack of judgment and did not represent the values of the plaza. In addition, the person has been fired from the place precisely for this reason.
However, it did explain why they have a strict policy on attire. The administrator explains that, derived from the criminal acts that the plaza suffered in 2016, when armed and masked men broke into the facilities, the decision was made to establish security measures. Accordingly, those who wear masks are asked for identification.
Apparently the situation ended on good terms for both parties, well obviously not the person they fired.
