Didesex Silver, the Bear Soccer Team from Mexico City, Take Home Gold from Gay Games XI

20th November 2023 John Hernandez

Didesex Silver, the team of gay bear soccer players from Mexico City, took home the gold at this year’s Gay Games in Guadalajara. We spoke to one of the team’s owners to learn more about them.

Didesex Silver after taking home the gold at Gay Games XI

More than 4,000 athletes from over 40 countries competed in this year’s Gay Games XI. The Games took place in Guadalajara, located in Mexico’s Jalisco state which is also where the bear favorite destination of Puerto Vallarta is situated. Jalisco has numerous laws in place to protect the LGBTQ+ community, making it the perfect place to host the biggest international queer sporting event in the world.

When word reached us that Didesex Silver had took home the gold in the Soccer Sevens tournament at the Gay Games we were overjoyed! A team made up of bears, that proudly flies the bear flag at all of their games, not only competed but won the whole thing. By doing this they placed not only themselves, but by proxy the entire bear community on an international stage for the entire queer world to acknowledge and celebrate! What an achievement!

We of course reached out to the team to extend our congratulations, which is how I met Héctor Alvarez Gamboa, who co-owns the team with Demosthenes Pérez. Héctor was good enough to fill me in on the team and their road to the Gay Games.

Didesex itself is a non-profit association that promotes spaces free of discrimination through socio-sports activities since 2010. The word Didesex is a Spanish acronym standing for diversity, sports and sexuality. Héctor came to own the Mexico City based team from the Didesex president Rafael Villanueva about 7 years ago which was named ‘Silver’ because it was the second team in the organization.

The team, which is part of Mexico City’s LGBT Soccer League, has been a proud representative of the bear community since Héctor took ownership with Demosthenes. When I asked why he proudly flies the bear flag at his games he said:

“It is important for me since we (the team) are part of the bear community. I am a chaser, my husband is chubby, most of the team identifies as bears, and those who don’t are huge supporters of the community.”

The team itself has of course bonded through their weekly Sunday afternoon practices, preparation games, and annual LGBT league tournaments which finally moved them to the top spot of their league, enabling them to compete in this year’s Gay Games which Héctor described as a ‘wonderful’ and ‘meaningful’ experience to the team.

In their downtime, the Silvers socialize together at local bear bars and events. Héctor describes the Mexican bear scene as ‘very fun and sociable’ and says that one of the team’s favorite spots is the Nichos Bear Bar in Mexico City which is owned by Adrián Garfias, whom the team affectionately refers to as ‘Papa Bear’. The team also bonds over the friendly rivalries they have other soccer teams like Azkatl Diversity (whom they defeated to win the gold at the Gay Games) and the Madrid Divas.

Next up for Didesex Silver is the Azcapotzalco Gay League Tournament in Mexico City and to start preparing for the 2026 Gay Games which will take place in Valencia, Spain. In order to make it there they are thinking of possibly developing some team merch but are also looking for patrons and companies that can help finance the trip. So bears, if you have a lead on that please get in touch with the team (at the social media links provided below).

We say it all the time here at Bear World, but representation is so important. We as bears so rarely are given the spotlight and the sports world is a place where the LGBTQ+ community, in general, still struggles for equality and acceptance. So, for Didesex Silver to shine such a light on our culture and community is truly remarkable. I hope you will join me in congratulating them and celebrating their victory!