Partners with HIVOS
Latin-American Magazine of the Caribbean on Sexual Diversity
No More Bullying
January 2015
GĂŠnder Identity
Equal Marriage Zero Discrimination
A stop to hate crimes
Stopping Phobias
The year to consolidate our rights
Style The most Exotic Hairstyles of 2014
New course We are now a Latin-American and Caribbean magazine Our campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in Belize, brought us not only satisfaction to be defending human rights of the LGBTI community of that country, it also brought us many new friends as well as requests that our magazine include Mexico and South America. With much effort we will readjust to this new path and as of this issue we will inform on Latin America and the Caribbean. In the December issue we have included information on Colombia and in this publication we include Mexico, Argentina and Chile, so that gradually we will include more information from other South American nations. . For this Issue we decided to include the countries in their locations of North and South, but this will vary, to alphabetical order, depending on the relevance of the news and by blocks. We hope that many organizations, web pages or people will like our Facebook page: Revista Lesbitgay, o Lesbitgay or our web page: lesbitgay.info
Prehispanic Female Sexuality The second part of our investigation on Female Sexuality of Abya Yala (as the original groups called the continent) with contributions on female sexuality. You can see it in the following link: http://issuu.com/caricr/docs/revista_prehispa nica_2 You can also read about male sexuality in the following link: http://issuu.com/caricr/docs/revista_prehispa nica_1/0
México Marriage, the main topic in five states The new year brought excellent omens for sexually diverse couples of Mexico: Guadalajara and Veracruz. The strategies of the LGBTI organizations and activists or the approval of equal marriage in a couple of the Mexican states has been very creative. In Guadalajara a collective wedding was held for 60 couples in the Plaza of Liberation, as a preamble to the first wedding in which Zaira Viridiana de la O Gómez and Martha Sandoval Blanco wed. In Veracruz a bill of law was presented for equal marriage and another for gender identity recognition and already Víctor Manuel Durán and Jair Darío Olivares have married. The LGBTI population of Nueva Leon signed a symbolic act requesting that legislators adapt the Law of Civil Registry to give access to matrimony and recognition of families. In Guanajuato the Court of the Third District gave a resolution in favor of one of the diverse couples so they may wed, after the General Offices of the Civil Registry denied the request, the wedding was held in the first days of January. The Secretary General of the State Government of Chiapas, Óscar Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar, pronounced this week that he supports the legalizing the union of same sex couples.
Trans will receive new Birth Certificate The Legislative Assembly of the Federal District of Mexico approved an initiative so that beginning in March 2015 trans can obtain a new birth certificate without having to go to trial. Gloria Hazel Davenport, LGBT activist, pointed out that 10 thousand people are trans, “but due to prejudice, transphobic violence, they don’t assume their identity and gender expression”.
Delivering the White book Aldo D谩vila, Director of the Positive People Association delivered the White Book to the Second Vice President of Costa Rica, Ana Helena Chac贸n Echeverr铆a, the document evidences the number of Central American brothers and sisters, that due to their sexual orientation or gender identity have had to leave their country to save their lives. This symbolic act is recognition on behalf of the Costa Rican government to be the only state in the isthmus that grants the condition of refugee due to sexual orientation to people that have to abandon their countries when facing the danger of being disappeared, murdered or being severely harassed due to their sexual diversity. In fact the country has granted this status to a few of people from Honduras and Guatemala.
Police Training The National Network of Sexual Diversity and HIV of Guatemala (REDNADS) is developing an effective strategy to strengthen the Offices of Attention to Victims of the National Civil Police for the LBTGI community and in a creative and entertaining manner, hold workshops to sensitize, inform and prevent.
HIV tests in Businesses As part of the activities for World Aids Day and the fight against HIV, the National Business council for the prevention of HIV (CONEVIH) intensified their preventive campaigns in industries and commerce in Guatemala and the project coordinator, Mario Calder贸n, was interviewed in the television program Matutino Express (Morning Express). The organization held free HIV testing at businesses and their campaign was welcome in the Guatemalan entrepreneurship.
Belize Ambassador against Sodomy law The new United States Ambassador in Belize, Carlos Moreno, requested that the government abolish the laws against sodomy, whose provisions are incompatible with the obligations that Belize has in relation to the right to privacy, strengthening capacity of the judicial system to recognize and protect the rights of vulnerable populations, including the LGBT community, indigenous groups, women and girls. He also requested an increase in the public awareness on hate speech and hate crimes and their impact on historically outcast groups from society as a whole. “We believe that Belize has taken positive steps towards being fully inclusive and there is no doubt that they can bear another day as an example to the region for the promotion of human rights for all of its citizens.”
Fundamentalists demonize the actions of LGBTI activists The prayer network of Belize, has a millionaire campaign financed by church fundamentalists to fight against all attempt made by LGBTI activists to reduce stigma and discrimination in this small country. Through Action in Belize, they also work to damage and distort the presence of LGBTI leaders before international organisms. The same occurred to Caleb Orozco in March of 2014 when he tried to present before the Organization of American States (OAS) a complaint and the religious groups reacted pointing out that it was a “string of lies that came directly from the abyss of hell”. If the Belizean government does not take their role seriously to defend human rights of all citizens they will continue to be the Cinderella of the Americas and a shame to the civilized world
UN asks for protection for the LGBTI community The United Nations (UN) asked the Salvadorian state for more protection for the rights of the LGBTI community, at least 200 of its members have been murdered since 1998. “I urge” the three State Powers to activate and implement public policy that are effective and efficient that protect the LGBTI community, and to not only tolerate, but to hold the young, women and men; people that are different that have the right to be considered as they are” said Robert Valent, resident coordinator of the United Nations systems in the country.
Genocide Declared Members of the lesbian community, LGBT of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua presented before the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (ICDR), in San Jose, Costa Rica to denounce a genocide that was committed in the isthmus against sexually diverse people, which the judicial system does not consider hate crimes. “The Central American Countries do not want to assume the security responsibilities and answer to these crimes against sexually diverse people, we are being victims of persecution, for being members of organizations that demand Equal Human Rights”, expressed the Salvadorian leader.
Government leaders in Seminars against discrimination Government leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean participated in a forum with the subject matter of equality and No Discrimination to the LGBTI population that was held in El Salvador by the Parliamentary association for Global Action (PGA), to approach the necessities and obstacles that sexually diverse people face to access health services, jobs and access to justice. This parliamentary network is made up of more than 1,100 members of 147 countries around the world that work for equality and no discrimination.
Shortage of Medication Activists and organizations that work in response to HIV join forces and raised their voices in San Pedro Sula in the face of the shortage of second line medication that Honduras faces and affects more than one thousand people. During the march the users expressed worries due to the lack of communication and transparency of the Honduran government, especially to the Health Secretary, where e-mails have been constantly sent and visited to obtain reliable answers to the cause of the shortage and the actions that will be carried out to resolve it.
High Violence Rates Alarming levels of violence due to gender, against journalists, human rights activists and justice officers, are some of the preliminary observations that were divulged by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (ICHR) after their visit to Honduras.
Miss Honduras against gender violence The new Miss Honduras, Gabriela Ordóñez, participated in a campaign against harassment as well as emotional and physical abuse that women suffer, similar to what happened to the Pageant Queen María José Alvarado, which ended her life. The new Miss clarified that the campaign is her initiative, and that now with the support of the International firm Nicole Lee, she hopes to take it there with an “open door”.
The commission also noted alarming levels of violence, which is among the highest in the world, one of the highest homicide rates per capita on a global level, disappearances and gender violence.
Rap in favor of Diversity “Be what they are”, a melody interpreted by two rappers and reggae performers, La Chica Lirical and SNoopy King can already be heard on Nicaraguan radio stations and it is the beginning of the campaign “We Live in Diversity” driven by the Network for Sustainable Development. The song defends and promotes Human Rights of the LGBTI community by proclaiming that they are subject to equal right conditions and opportunities in society. .
IDSHD turns 8 The Sexual Diversity Initiative for Human Rights (IDSDH) turned 8 after much hard work and success in their political and social actions. Their contributions started in 2006 and it is conceived as an inclusive social movement and as a reference in the struggle for the defense of Human Rights of Sexual Diversity in Nicaragua. Their mission is to transform power relation that exclude and discriminate the LGBTI community with the hope of generating social change to fulfill human rights. Much Success.
Politician will present a bill on equal marriage The congresswoman of Frente Amplio, Ligia Fallas, will present a bill before congress for Equal Marriage to guarantee that same sex couples obtain the same rights as heterosexuals. According to the legislator “this is a topic that cannot continue to be a taboo in congress it needs to be discussed and approved by congress. The same sex couples can’t continue to suffer discrimination by the state and its laws, the 33 article of the Constitution contemplates a principal of equality, which needs to be respected and guaranteed”.
Discrimination will be a crime Economic sanctions to those that discriminate others due to their sexual orientation, ethnicity, handicap or sickness, is one of the modifications that was included in the bill to reform the integral General HIV Law. This text proposes sanctions equivalent to 40 and 80 days of wages of a Judicial Clerk (between ¢506.000 and ¢1.012.000) by reforming article 373 of the Penal Code. IT also contemplates an increase to the budget of the National Council for Integral Attention of HIV-AIDS (Conasida) to promote prevention programs.
Government will convene bill for Coexisting Societies The union between people of the same sex will be a debate topic for congress starting in January. The vice-president of the republic, Ana Helena Chacón, confirmed that the government will convene to extraordinary sessions one of the projects that aims legal recognition between unions of people of the same sex. Before this president Luis Guillermo Solís said that his government plan is to support the Project of Coexisting Societies. .
Index of Stigma and Discrimination The Citizen Observatory for Human Rights and HIV in Panama, collected for the first time the Index of Stigma and Discrimination with the objective of releasing data that contributes to increase the participation of people with HIV in key activities, that can generate changes in behavior and that lead to decision making. This study determines that the stigma and discrimination towards people with HIV is part of the day to day in Panama and that the human rights violations occur in health, education, jobs and overall in families.
Workshop in Bocas del Toro In mid December the Association of New Horizons held a workshop to promote health and the strengthen prevention among people of higher risk in Bocas del Toro and Changuinola.
Catholic Church in a fight against sexuality The Archbishop of Panama JosĂŠ Domingo Ulloa has started a fierce fight against all topics o sexuality and it is common that he urge the faithful to hold marches against abortion and homosexual unions. It seems that all the Ulloa of the clergy are a stumbling block for humanity and they even contrast the advances that are made by the Vatican. God free us from them.
The workshop was a success and for 2015 they already count with a solid team for the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. The workshop was held with audiovisuals, group activities and games.
“Gay Money” Company in Puerto Rico The Ample Committee for the search for Equality (CABE) of Puerto Rico has promoted an initiative called “Gay Money” as part of their work to integrate the LGBT collective of the country. According to Amárilis Pagán, who created the proposal, they look to “make the LGBT community visible on how they are integrated into all social and economic spaces of the island. “ “We are inviting the LGBT community or allies to acquire a simple rubber stamp that says “Gay Money” and to mark their bills. We want to see what the business sector as well as the fundamentalists that lobby so that laws against discrimination are passed will do.
Haiti leaves silence behind The struggle has not been easy. Religious fundamentalists blame them for all natural catastrophes that the island suffers, constant violence in the streets; uncontrolled sexually transmitted diseases and generalized homophobia are ingredients that have contributed to silencing the LGBT community in Haiti. Despite adversity, voices of protest have started to emerge. A report by the pro human rights NGO Al Jazeera America, highlight the struggles of the group Kouraj, they have stopped the attacks by the religious fundamentalists with the slogan: “I am not going to be gay only in some places; I am going to be gay where I am”, as well as SEROvie who promotes respect with education.
Trinidad asks for a stop to Discrimination LGBTI are discriminated in Trinidad and Tobago and they live under a El negative feelings about their sexuality, they shadow of fear and have internalize negative attitudes on the attraction they feel for people of the same sex. “We have to eliminate laws that perpetuate prejudice against these people. We need legislation against discrimination. We need more organizations based on faith to elevate their voices against discrimination. We also need communities of people affected by HIV so that their rights and dignity are respected”, indicated David Soomarie, coordinator of Community Action Resources (CARE)
Newspaper highlights LGBTI advances The advance for rights of the LGBTI community in Cuba is notable, according to what is highlighted in the United States newspaper, The New York Times. The newspaper is optimistic due to the improving relations between the island and the United States, and it is highlighted in the editorial of the 23 of December when it assures that “The visible and strengthened gay community offers hope that other liberties will settle in the country”.
TRANSCUBA is published The National Centre for Sexual Education (CENESEX) just published a book “TRANSCUBA”, written by the activist, defender and ally of the Cuban trans community, Mariette Pathy Allen. Mariette Pathy Allen is a photographer originally from New York that has dedicated more than 30 years to portray the transgender community all over the world. Her work has made her a pioneer for creating gender awareness contributing in many cultural and academic publications on the topic.
Big Hope for the LGBTI community “Insofar as the Cuban government manages to overthrow the obstacles generated by the imposed block by the United States I will be in better conditions to satisfy a good part of the demands made by LGBTI groups”, assured the Cuban activist Manuel Vázquez. The National Center for Sexual Education (CENESEX), has manifested in diverse spaces its support to declarations made by the presidents of both nations, that live since 1961 a political dispute, concreted by an economic and financial block against the island. For Cuban activism, the fundamental demands are related to equal rights, social visibility, LGBTI education and sensitization, anti- discrimination laws and access to education as well as work.
Jamaica Constant fear of Abuse LGBT people in Jamaica are very vulnerable to physical and sexual violence and live in constant fear, signaled Human Rights Watch (HRW), in an 86 page report, product of an investigation on the island during 2014. Of 56 violence related cases associated to sexual orientation that were documented by HRW, only 19 victims filed a complaint, the police made a formal declaration only for 8 of them and for 4 there were opportunities of arrest. “The LGBT community of Jamaica faces intolerable levels of violence and cannot confide in the police”, indicated Graeme Reid, director of Homosexual Rights of HRW. “The authorities, starting the First Minister and working its way down, need to put a stop to the violence and discrimination, process the responsible and outlaw homophobic laws” he said.
Violence against lesbians A study made by Quality of Citizenship Jamaica (QCJ), showed that 47% of female lesbians and . bisexuals in Jamaica have faced a threat of sexual violence and sexual harassment by men, with the intention of “Straightening out the aberration”. Latoya Nugent, Manager of Education for the Forum of Jamaican Lesbians, All sexual and Gays (J-FLAG), said that corrective rapes are a growing problem for lesbians and bisexual women in Jamaica. “Men believe that if women are exposed to the corrective class of heterosexual relation, they will change their sexual orientation”, added Nugent.
Maintaining a penalty on Homosexuality The conservative religious leaders of the United States Mat Staver and Judith Reisman were the main prayer leaders in a conference held in Jamaica by a group that has worked to preserve the penal prohibition of the country against consensual gay sex. The annual conference, organized by “The Coalition of Jamaica for a Healthy Society”, centered itself on how modern society has become more hostile towards families and matrimony, opening space for homosexual relations. .
Colombia Lawsuit against Sexual Discrimination The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (CIDH) presented before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a lawsuit against Colombia in relation to a case of discrimination due to sexual orientation. The trial was motivated by the case of Ángel Alberto Duque, whom the Colombian state denied a survivors pension and access to uninterrupted health services and treatment for HIV, once his partner died. According to the CIDH, the state did not provide the victim with effective resources to face this violation, on the contrary, the judicial authorities that heard the case “perpetuated prejudice and stigmatization with their decisions of people and couples of the same sex”.
Posthumous homage to Sergio Urrego Sergio Urrego, a teenager that committed suicide after being discriminated by the directors of his high school because he came out, received a posthumous recognition as a bachelor from the high schools Normandía and Agustín Nieto. The act was held in the auditorium Alberto Lleras Camargo of the University of The Andes, there all that attended stood to receive the youths parents, Alba Reyes and Robert Urrego, when they entered they were carrying the toga and the cap that their son should have worn.
Risaralda creates a round table against violence The department of Risaralda created a round table against violence to attend urgent cases of the LGBTi community, to search for a quick resolution for crimes that are unpunished and to denounce the aggressions against people of diverse sexual orientation. The restlessness emerged because the department occupies fourth place in Colombia in hate crimes and since 2008 30 homicides have been registered. The straw that broke the camel’s back were two recent homicides against trans in the communities of Dosquebradas and Pereira and the repeated cases of violence in these communities.
Chile Support for homoparental families More than 60 people attended the ninth “Chilean Gay Pride, Open Min Fest” a musical event for diversity and against discrimination held in Santiago. This year equal rights for homoparental families is demanded, there was satisfactory participation. The invite overcame all expectations and implies a clear rejection to those that oppose LGBTI rights and their families.
Evangelical Pastor is the shame of Chile The evangelical pastor Javier Soto insulted and tried to hit one of the lawmakers that participated in the vote for the Life Partner Agreement (AVP) and became a real embarrassment for Chile, while in his church he preaches about loving Christ, in the street he lets his daemons loose.
CIDH denounces hate crimes in Chile The Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (CIDH) informed that between January 1st 2013 and March 31st 2014, 28 cases were registered for homophobic violence in Chile, of which 10 are hate crimes registered in the regions of Metropolitana and Valparaíso.
The pastor condemned the legislator to go to “hell”, labeling them also as dirty and corrupt. The president of the chamber of lawmakers, Aldo Cornejo, announced that legal actions were presented against Soto and also the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (MOVILH) before the National Services for Minors for using children in a video in a homophobic manner.
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Regarding the latter, three of these cases were beatings, in five there were knives and two were gun fires and strangling to provoke asphyxiation. “In a large number of the cases documented by the CIDH a high level of cruelty based on sexual orientation and gender identity as well as gender expression” signaled the report. Also, the instance shows a concern for “police abuse” of Carabineros and highlights that there are “low levels of complaint in cases of police abuse”.
Argentina Argentinean activists are the most efficient in the world In just a decade Argentina has a vanguard place in LGBTI rights worldwide. Its activists have achieved a 180 degree change when it comes to human rights. This period they managed to become the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to approve equal marriage, the nation that has the most advanced Gender Identity Law in the planet, a law for assisted reproduction and an Integral and Inclusive sexual education. This process has received applause from the Argentinean Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Federation (FALGBT), the Homosexual Community of Argentina (CHA) and hundreds of activists that with their anonymous input have contributed to dignify the LGBTI community of the continent with the inspiration of their struggles.
Trans subsidy proposed Councilwoman María Rachid presented a bill proposal so that trans people receive a monthly subsidy of 256 dollars for being considered survivors since their life expectancy is a little over 30 years.
LGBT Defense in Buenos Aires The activist Flavia Massenzio has become the main LGBT Advocate, position that was just created in the city of Buenos Aires and now has the challenge of assuring that laws supporting sexual diversity are effective, accompany the victims of the system and promoting public policies to modify the situation that generated a violation of their rights. The member of Las Fulanas, already has a pile of cases to harbor: her files are with her since 2005 when she became a member of the Argentinean LGBT Federation, to work as a volunteer protecting equal marriage when it was a request in the pride marches.
Prostitution, aggression, murder and HIV are the most dangerous threats that the members of the transsexual community face. “Trans suffer discrimination for our gender identity almost since we have reason. We are thrown out of our houses and rejected by our families. Most of us did not finish school because the education system threw us out for being different. We are tired of searching and searching for a job, of feeling doors close in our face”.