Casa de las muñecas (Doll’s House) by Kenya Cuevas is not just a book, it is a manifesto of defiance, a searing testament to human resilience that tears open the wounds of injustice to expose a truth we cannot ignore. Kenya Cuevas, a transgender woman, activist, and symbol of relentless struggle, bares her soul in these pages, recounting a life scarred by rejection, violence, and discrimination. From the horrors of life on the streets to the creation of shelters and safe spaces for the transgender community, this book is the story of a woman who refused to be erased, who rose again and again in the face of a system determined to silence her.
Through unwavering strength, courage, and the support of those who believe in justice, Kenya transformed unimaginable pain into decisive action, exclusion into safe havens, and isolation into a network of support that now saves lives. Casa de las muñecas challenges every reader to confront the structures that perpetuate hatred, to question the world around them, and to take an active role in creating change. It is an urgent, indispensable account of struggle, memory, and dignity in a Mexico wounded by persistent violence.
Kenya Cytlaly Cuevas Fuentes, born in Mexico City on September 5, 1983, is a fearless human rights defender whose activism changed history. She ensured that the transfeminicide of her companion, Paola Buenrostro, became the first case officially recognized as a transfeminicide by Mexico City’s Human Rights Commission in 2019. She founded Casa de las Muñecas Tiresias and Casa Hogar Paola Buenrostro, the first shelter for transgender women in Mexico, and championed the Paola Buenrostro Law, earning national recognition and numerous awards for her tireless advocacy.
Her story begins in a childhood marked by violence and neglect. After the death of her grandmother at the age of nine, Kenya was left under the care of her older siblings, who abused her physically, emotionally, and economically because of her sexual orientation. Forced to survive, she began working as a domestic helper and endured further exploitation until she made the brave decision to escape her home at just nine years old.
Life on the streets led Kenya to sex work at an extraordinarily young age. Guided by a transgender mentor, she transitioned from male to female while living in a residence for transgender women and sex workers. Even as a child navigating immense hardship, Kenya demonstrated extraordinary resilience. At thirteen, she tested positive for HIV, a reality she learned to live with while continuing her fight for dignity, survival, and the rights of others.
Her path was strewn with unimaginable obstacles: drug use, homelessness for two decades, and wrongful imprisonment for alleged cocaine possession.
Even in the face of threats to her life, including assassination attempts and the murder of Pamela Sandoval at her home, Kenya never wavered. She founded Casa de las Muñecas Tiresias to protect sex workers, homeless people, drug users, people living with HIV, and former prisoners, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Today, the organization spans several Mexican states, providing legal support, healthcare access, cultural programs, and advocacy. Kenya is also constructing the first mausoleum for transgender women in Mexico City, honoring those lost to violence.
In 2019, she established Casa Hogar Paola Buenrostro, a shelter promoting social reintegration and economic autonomy for transgender women, creating a model that can be replicated nationwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya mobilized volunteers to distribute food to vulnerable communities, reinforcing her unwavering commitment to the marginalized.
Casa de las muñecas is not merely a memoir, it is a clarion call to action, a testament to the power of human resilience and a demand for justice. Kenya Cuevas turns trauma and exclusion into a force for transformation, courage, and hope. Her story forces readers to confront systemic injustice, honor the struggles of transgender women, and participate in the creation of a fairer, more compassionate world. This book stands as a monument to bravery, unyielding perseverance, and the extraordinary capacity of one individual to change countless lives.
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