Humberto Mata Espinel

Humberto Mata Espinel (born 1967 or 1968, Guayaquil) is an Ecuadorian activist and former politician. He currently serves as the manager of the VIHDA Foundation, an organization that aims to reducing HIV transmission from mothers to their children.

In 2011, he became the first Ecuadorian public figure to marry a person of the same sex. The marriage took place in Argentina, and his spouse is activist Maximiliano Novoa.

Biography Mata began his secondary education at the Cristóbal Colón Salesian School in Guayaquil before continuing his studies in the United States. He earned a degree in Political Science from Harvard University and later obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. One of his main campaign proposals was to increase the province’s autonomy. In the 2002 presidential election, Mata and his movement supported the candidacy of socialist León Roldós Aguilera.

In the 2004 sectional elections, Mata again ran for prefect of Guayas, finishing second to Lapentti. He also ran unsuccessfully for the 2007 Constituent Assembly, where he opposed the policies of President Rafael Correa.

Following these campaigns, Mata withdrew from political life.

In April 2011, he announced his marriage to activist Maximiliano Novoa in Argentina,

After coming out, Mata said he had concealed his sexual orientation during his political career to prevent it from being used against him or his family.