ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2012

In this sense, it is worth emphasizing the undervalued role of these identities in the spheres for eradicating
stigma and discrimination. This highlights the need to generate policy proposals that do not favor the
reproduction of hegemony, at the same time acknowledging that there are underlying conflicts based on
the experience of sexuality and gender representation in this community. Therefore, we affirm that sexuality,
gender, in the movement of sexual diversity is not neutral and generates exclusions that we must be able to
overcome.
In this way, we also note with concern how violence in Central America, reported on a permanent basis,
continues to develop in full view of international standards bodies. Only in Honduras from September 2008 to
February 2012, the Red Lesbian Cattrachas reported seventy-one deaths which have affected the
community known as LTGBI. At the moment of writing the present report, in the same country Erick Martinez
Alex Avila was killed, he was a journalist, activist of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
community and deputy candidate in Honduras. The Caribbean, on the other hand, remains the scene of
profound legal discrimination that enhances the violence affecting lesbian, trans, gay, bisexual, intersex
people. In this sub-region, there are eleven countries which still pursue and imprison non-heterosexual
persons.
Bearing this in mind, there is a need to generate conditions at regional level in order to legislate on hate
crimes in each country of LAC, defined as "all those crimes or attempted crimes motivated by prejudice
toward and against the victim because of color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, origin,
ethnicity, marital status, birth, physical or mental discapacity, social status, religion, age, religious or political
beliefs" that should be established promptly, so that each case of “lesbotransgaybiinterphobia” are banned
and that behaviors which diminish people based on the exacerbation of the difference are eradicated. We
are aware that the character acquired by ILGA’s ECOSOC status will be a facilitator for this and other
processes and will use it responsibly.
The compilation of State-Sponsored homo-, lesbo-, bi- and transphobia laws achieved through this report,
acts as an encouragement to continue the struggle of sexual diversity and dissidence in Latin America. In the
framework of legal progress we wish to underline the positive development carried out by Argentina,
Colombia, Brazil and we encourage the Central American, Caribbean and all those States where the
enforcement of rights is being hindered, to create conditions that give effect to the commitments made in
this field. This process becomes a relevant guide on the issues that should engage activists and decision
makers and promotes an understanding that the latter should meet the demands of civil society. Thus, the
following points are unavoidable to manage greater equality and social equity:
• Strengthen actions that promote and oblige concrete institutional frameworks with their own
resources and participation of lesbian, transgender, bisexual, gay, intersex people in charge of
developing strategies and public policies to eradicate stigma and discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity;
• Regulation on the definition of hate crimes;
• Ensure the Secular State in Latin America, agreeing on the eradication of hate speech promoted by
sections of the Church and fundamentalist groups in the region.
• It should also generate actions that facilitate the shutting down of clinics that cure homosexuality.
These precepts based on pathologizing of homosexuality should be prohibited, as they apply torture
mechanisms to lesbians, transvestites, gay, bisexual, intersex people;
• Pay special attention to the specificity of violence that affects every non heterosexual identity,
considering the intersecting variables of oppression in the areas described by the economic, social
and cultural rights;
• Stop the violence affecting the community in Central America and the Caribbean;
• Facilitate access and improve the mechanisms for civil society participation in decision-making of
international normative bodies, thus anticipating discussions on full citizenship and allowing such
State-Sponsored Homophobia – May 2011
ILGA – The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - www.ilga.org
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