For centuries, European colonialists persecuted indigenous peoples throughout the Americas while simultaneously criminalizing homosexuality. During the Spanish conquests, conquistadors tortured queer Natives who practiced gender roles different from their assigned birth sex at birth. In the modern era, Catholic missionaries banned polygamy and same-sex marriage in many countries to replace Native customs with strict heteronormative norms. These prejudices have been reinforced through state structures like family law codes that criminalize gay people and transgender individuals.
In Latin America, LGBT activists have struggled for equal rights since the early twentieth century. The first legal victory came when Mexico decriminalized homosexuality in 1890. This was soon followed by Chile (19999), Argentina (2002), Colombia (2006), Brazil (2004), Uruguay (2005), Peru (2007), Ecuador (2009), Bolivia (2011), Paraguay (2013), Panama (2014), El Salvador (2015) and Nicaragua (2014).
These laws often lacked teeth as they were not accompanied by any anti-discrimination measures.
Some states still prosecute gay people under religious or public morality statutes.
Historical Forces Driving Advances in LGBT Rights
Latin American activists have used various strategies to advance their cause over time. One approach is internationalism. They joined forces with global advocacy organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to pressure governments into legal reform. Another strategy involves coalitions with allies from other movements.
Women's groups helped fight for sexual freedom during the dictatorships of the late twentieth century.
They have mobilized against homophobic violence on the streets through marches and demonstrations that brought media attention to the issue. These efforts paid off when police began investigating hate crimes based on gender identity or expression.
Setbacks in LGBT Rights in Latin America
Unfortunately, there are setbacks too. In 2010, Brazil passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage nationwide despite having already legalized it at the state level. This was reversed in 2013 after widespread protests. Meanwhile, Venezuela has seen several anti-LGBTQ+ incidents since Chavez took power in 2013. His successor Maduro has also targeted queer people by restricting free speech and blocking access to healthcare services. In Ecuador, a conservative movement led by evangelical Christians blocked an initiative to recognize same-sex partnerships before they could be implemented nationally. Similarly, Bolivia repealed its anti-discrimination law in 2014 after public outcry about proposed changes allowing transgender individuals to use public restrooms according to their preferred gender identity.
Contemporary Strategies for Activism
Latin American activists have developed new tactics for achieving equality. They have formed cross-border alliances with other movements like feminism and indigenous rights groups to challenge oppressive laws. They have also collaborated with international organizations such as UNESCO to promote human rights internationally.
They have used social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to reach audiences beyond traditional political institutions. These strategies have been successful: nine of the ten countries with legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity are now located in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay).
There is still much work left to do until all LGBTQ+ citizens can live freely without fear of persecution or violence.