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 <strong>2012</strong>, 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 <strong>ILGA</strong>’s ECOSOC status will be a facilitator for this and other processes and will use it responsibly. The compilation of <strong>State</strong>-<strong>Sponsored</strong> 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 <strong>State</strong>s 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 <strong>State</strong> 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 <strong>State</strong>-<strong>Sponsored</strong> <strong>Homophobia</strong> – May 2011 <strong>ILGA</strong> – The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - www.ilga.org 55
concept to destabilize universalist and liberal tensions that generate exclusion. The present report accounts for a clear path to address each Latin American country in the fight against violence affecting those who are different from the imposed norm. A change in this reality is urgent to advance the cultural transformation. This is a tiny step, as we know that the eradication of violence is not only based on legal reforms. It is a tiny step, we repeat, that must lead to other levels of reflection and actions that radically challenge the asymmetrical relations of power as well as political and economic scenarios in which they develop. That is why it is so important. Toli Hernandez, Pedro Paradiso Sottile, Amaranta Gomez <strong>ILGA</strong>-LAC Board members Representatives for Latin America and the Caribbean to the <strong>ILGA</strong> World Board <strong>State</strong>-<strong>Sponsored</strong> <strong>Homophobia</strong> – May 2011 <strong>ILGA</strong> – The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - www.ilga.org 56
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