LGBTQ people in Chile


LGBTQ people in Chile are individuals in Chile who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.

LGBTQ rights

The LGBTQ community in Chile has gained some rights in recent years. In 2012 it was approved the anti-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories. The law penalizes the arbitrary discrimination, allows citizens to file anti-discrimination lawsuits and requires the State to develop public policies to end discrimination. The law also adds heightened punishments for hate crimes. The same year, the Armed Forces of Chile abolished all internal rules that prevented homosexuals from entering the Army, adapting the practices and regulations of the institution to the anti-discrimination law.
In 2015, came into force the Civil Union Agreement law, which is the first legal standard that gives explicit recognition to same-sex couples in Chile. The law enables same-sex and opposite-sex cohabitating couples to co-own property and make medical decisions as well as claim pension benefits and inherit property if their civil partner dies. Gaining custody of a partner's child where necessary is also made easier by the law. It also recognises marriages performed abroad as civil unions and views couples and their children as a family.
Since 2007, transgender people have the right to legally change their legal gender and name after completion of medical intervention. A judicial permission is required. Since 2013, sex reassignment surgeries and hormone therapy are covered by the public health system.
In January 2016, Chile became the second country in the world to outlaw non-consensual unnecessary surgical and other procedures on intersex children.
Currently in Chile there are different laws, regulations and public policies that protect LGBTQ people from discrimination such as protections in access to employment, housing, in the provision of goods and services and blood donations. Also anti-discrimination protection in public and private schools as well as an anti-bullying law that has a positive impact on the fight against homophobia in the classroom.

History

LGBTQ movement

First gay demonstration

The homosexual protests, marches and the movement in general in Chile emerged publicly under the socialist government of Salvador Allende, months before the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. On April 22, 1973, in the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, about 30 homosexuals and transvestites were part of the first public demonstration for gay rights in the history of Chile. They gathered to protest against abuses by police, which continually jailed them for "indecency and bad manners."
Chile became one of the pioneering countries in the world in political demonstrations of homosexuals. Despite the importance of this protest, it remains invisible at national and international level.

LGBTQ rights organizations

List of LGBTQ rights organizations in Chile.
  • Integración, first gay organization founded in 1977.
  • Ayuquelén, first lesbian organization founded in 1983.
  • SER, the first gay organization in southern Chile, founded in the late 1980s.
  • Lesbianas en Acción, first lesbian organization in southern Chile, founded in the late 1980s.
  • Las Yeguas del Apocalipsis, performance gay group formed in 1987.
  • Homosexual Movement of Integration and Liberation, founded in 1991.
  • Lambda Center Chile, a gay group focused on AIDS prevention, formed in 1994.
  • Unified Movement of Sexual Minorities, founded in 1997.
  • Agrupación de Personas Transgénero, founded in 2001.
  • Federación Chilena de la Diversidad Sexual, first Chilean LGBT federation formed in 2007 by thirteen organizations: Movilh, Traves Talca, Traves Navia, Afirmación Chile, Centro de Acción Social por la Diversidad, Organización de Transexual por la Dignidad de la Diversidad de Rancagua, Movihred Rancagua, Coordinadora Universitaria por la Diversidad Sexual de Osorno, GLTTB Temuco, Chilegay Deportes, Brigay Arica, Grupo de apoyo a Hombres Transexuales, and Agrupación de Amigos y Familiares de la Comunidad Gay de La Serena.
  • Falange por las Diversidades Sexuales, founded in 2010.
  • Fundación Iguales, founded in 2011.
  • Frente de la Diversidad Sexual, formed in 2013 by eleven LGBT organizations: ACCIONGAY, Iguales Chile, MUMS, Asociación Organizando Trans Diversidades, Fundación Todo Mejora, Valdiversa, lesbian group Rompiendo el Silencio, Fundación Daniel Zamudio, Red de Psicólogos de la Diversidad Sexual, SOMOS Coquimbo and Mogaleth.
  • Fundación de familiares de niños y jóvenes trans, founded in 2015.

    LGBTQ events

In June 1999, The first March for Sexual Diversity was held in Santiago. Since 2001, Gay pride events have been held each year, concentrated mainly in the capital city. Chile held on July 2, 2006, its first Gay pride parade in Paseo Bulnes, in front of La Moneda Palace. In its first version the event gathered over 12,000 people. In the following years, and with the slogan Open Mind Fest, the event has continued to grow in attendance, although in November.
Since 2008 it is held annually the International LGBTI Film Festival, being the largest LGBT film exhibition event in Chile. It takes place in October in Santiago.
It awards three prizes that the audience can vote for. There are three main categories in which an award is given: feature film, documentary and short film.
The films are also displayed in several cities such as Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, La Serena, Chillán and Puerto Montt.

IDAHO

Since 2005, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is celebrated every May 17. The LGBTQ organizations carry out different activities, forums, marches, mass events and campaigns throughout the country.
In 2013, the LGBTQ rights group MOVILH, developed a broad campaign to increase the visibility of LGBTQ rights, encouraging local authorities across the country to raise the LGBTQ rainbow flag to show support for inclusive and anti-discrimination policies in the country. That same year, six municipalities and one embassy participated. In the following years, the number of institutions that joined the campaign increased significantly. In 2016, a total of 110 public and private institutions raised the rainbow flag, including 49 municipalities, 8 embassies, 42 government agencies, 3 libraries, 3 universities, 4 political parties and a shopping center.
The School Calendar 2016 incorporates the International Day Against Homophobia. The Ministry of Education recommends to schools develop educational, artistic, cultural or sports activities in commemoration of the date.
On May 17, 2016, La Moneda presidential palace was illuminated with the colours of the rainbow to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Chile became the second country in the world to light up a government building with the rainbow, after the United States, which illuminated the White House in 2015.

LGBTQ people in politics

In 2004, Alejandra González Pino became the first transsexual to reach a position of public representation in Latin America. Gonzalez was elected council member for Lampa. In the municipal elections of 2012 she was re-elected for her third term and received the first majority of votes in her commune.
In 2012, Jaime Parada became the first openly gay councilman elected to office in Chile. He was elected as councilman for the commune of Providencia. In the same municipal elections, voters elected transgender council member Zuliana Araya. She won her bid as councilmember for the commune of Valparaíso.
In 2013, Claudio Arriagada became the first openly gay man elected to office in Chile's Chamber of Deputies. Deputy Guillermo Ceroni, elected in 2013, came out in 2015.
In 2014, Pedro Felipe Ramirez was appointed by President Michelle Bachelet as Chile's ambassador to Venezuela. He was a deputy and minister in the government of Salvador Allende. In 1984, during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, Ramirez faced a complex episode, which threatened to expose his homosexuality, after which for his own safety he opted for the retirement from public political life. At that time homosexuality was strongly rejected by society.
Cristián Loyola González, a councilman from the Chilean commune of Quilaco, came out as gay in September 2014.
In 2016, Oscar Rementería, a militant of center party Amplitud, became the first gay activist elected vice president of a political party in Chile.
In the 2016 municipal elections, three openly gay men and two transgender women were elected as council members for the first time in their respective communes. Ricardo Cantín in Coyhaique, Hernando Durán Palma in Talca, Esteban Barriga in Temuco, Juliana Bustos Zapata in Collipulli and Almendra Silva Millalonco in the commune of Cisnes. Meanwhile, Jaime Parada and transgender Zuliana Araya were re-elected as councilors for the period 2016–2020.

LGBTQ people

Living conditions

There are no legal restrictions on adult same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTQ events in Chile. The law sets the age of consent at 18 for homosexual sexual activity; heterosexual activity is permitted, under some circumstances, at age 14. The Catholic Church and traditional beliefs regarding gender roles do play a combined role in prevailing attitudes about sex roles, sexual orientation and gender identity. Although much of Chilean conservative society continues to regard homosexuality with a degree of contempt, the gay community has not faced the worst conditions of a continent plagued by machismo.
The perception of LGBTQ people in Chile has improved as a result of the increase in visibility within the media, including ad campaigns by the Government. Nevertheless, there have been cases of discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity reported, including cases involving violence or death. In 2012, following a hate crime against Daniel Zamudio, Law No. 20,609 to Establish Measures against Discrimination was adopted. Additionally, as of October 22, 2015, same-sex couples can legally enter into a Civil union agreement. The law resembles marriage in some respects, and grants a new civil status.
Gays and lesbians visiting Chile will most likely not encounter any prejudice or outward intolerance. However, public displays of affection between same sexes are rare in many cities. Many gays and lesbians are not actively open about their orientation outside their own circles. At least every regional capital has a gay club, which is usually where the LGBTQ community meets.
In Chile, transgender people are often associated with homosexuality. Transgender women are mostly discriminated, unable to enter the labor market so their only way of survival is prostitution, therefore they are exposed to violence and police harassment. According to a 2009 study conducted by RedLacTrans, about 95% of Chilean transgender women work as prostitutes because of family, social and employment discrimination. As for transgender men, in many cases they decide to violate their gender identity using female or unisex clothes to get a job. Since 2007, name and sex change on legal documents are only allowed by court order.
While LGBTQ people live throughout Chile, the visible LGBTQ community is largely restricted to Santiago in the gay-friendly neighborhoods Bellavista and Parque Forestal. Demonstrations of affection are now an increasingly common sight downtown while gay bars, clubs and saunas are surfacing all over the place. It's vibrant gay scene is nothing of a recent phenomenon, indeed, gay clubs like Fausto or Capricho Español claim to be the oldest in South America.