A Baja California Sur state legislator has introduced a bill to rename the state’s Hall of Fame to explicitly recognize women alongside men. Deputy Arlene Moreno Maciel proposed changing the Rotonda de los Sudcalifornianos Ilustres to the Rotonda de las Sudcalifornianas y Sudcalifornianos Ilustres, a shift from the masculine-default Spanish phrasing to a gender-inclusive name.
The Rotonda was established in 1985 as BCS’s highest civic honor, recognizing individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state. Moreno Maciel argues the current name, which uses only the masculine plural form in Spanish, fails to acknowledge women’s role in the state’s history.
A Symbolic Change, Not a Structural One
The proposal does not alter the nomination process or eligibility criteria for induction into the Rotonda. It changes only the official title of the institution. In Spanish, masculine plural nouns have traditionally been used as the default to refer to mixed groups. Moreno Maciel’s bill follows a broader trend across Mexican government institutions to adopt gender-inclusive language in official names and documents.
The deputy noted that female representation among those honored in the Rotonda remains limited. While the exact number of women inducted was not specified, the imbalance has been a recurring point of discussion in BCS civic life.
Bill Heads to Gender Equality Committee
The BCS state congress has referred the measure to its Gender Equality Committee for review. The committee will evaluate the proposal before it advances to a full floor vote. No timeline for a decision has been announced.
BCS’s state congress in La Paz has taken up several legislative initiatives in recent weeks, including discussions on electoral nepotism and term limits. The gender-inclusive renaming proposal adds to a busy legislative calendar in the state capital.
The Rotonda de los Sudcalifornianos Ilustres serves a similar function to the federal Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres in Mexico City, where the remains and legacies of notable national figures are preserved. The BCS version honors those who contributed to the development and identity of the peninsula state.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias.