On 1 December 1995, two lesbians on their way home from Mexico to the United States were banished from Mexicana Airlines flight 972 in the middle of the night while the plane was stopped at the Guadalajara airport. The captain of the plane, Arturo Trujillo Vizcarra, charged Livit Callentine and Holly Babe Faust with "immoral behavior" because they were holding hands. He then ordered six security guards to physically oust them from the flight. The two women were driven around the airport in a van for two hours under guard. They were not provided with overnight accommodations, and had to fight to obtain their luggage and tickets for another flight.

The women filed a complaint against the airline in February along with a demand that Mexicana provide sensitivity training for all employees, issue a public apology to the women and to the lesbian and gay community in general, and pay the women $200,000 in damages. They are calling for a worldwide boycott of Mexicana Airlines until their demands are met.

IGLHRC, along with the Mexico City lesbian group El Closet de Sor Juana, is calling for letters protesting Mexicana's appalling treatment of Livit Callentine and Holly Babe Faust. If you have a travel agent, ask her or him to question Mexicana about this incident.

Letters should request that Mexicana respond to the complaint in a responsible and timely fashion, discipline Captain Trujillo Vizcarra for his behavior, issue a public statement apologizing for the incident, and undertake immediate steps such as sensitivity training and an anti- discrimination policy to improve their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender patrons.

The case has recently been turned over to the Mexicana insurance underwriters for review. It will then return to Mexicana Customer Service for continued evaluation. Please send letters immediately (by fax if possible) to both Elizabeth Krupski, the insurance underwriter, and Maria Ruiz, the Mexicana customer service representative:

Ms. Elizabeth Krupskibr> U.S. Aviation Company

1 Seaport Plaza
199 Water Street
NY, NY 10038
Fax: (212) 349-8226

Ms. Maria Ruiz
Customer Service Department
Mexicana Airlines

9841 Airport Blvd., Ste. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Fax: (310) 646-0433

Copies of all letters should be sent to IGLHRC and to:

Lic. Jorge Madrazo
Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos

Av. Periferico Sur No. 3469
San Jeronimo Lidice
C.P. 10200
MEXICO