Category: Latin America

UNHCR Calls for Investigation into Murder of Transgender Woman in Guatemala

August 2, 2020

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, expresses its deep dismay at the violent death of a Salvadoran transgender woman who had applied for asylum in Guatemala. The woman’s body was found on August 1 at her home in Guatemala City. She had fled El Salvador in 2017 after having suffered violence due … More UNHCR Calls for Investigation into Murder of Transgender Woman in Guatemala

ILGA’s 2019 State Sponsored Homophobia Report Reveals Much Needed For LGBTQ Equality & Human Rights

March 24, 2019

On 20 March, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) launched the 13th edition of its flagship publication, State-Sponsored Homophobia, authored by Lucas Ramón Mendos. This publication compiles data on laws that affect people on the basis of their sexual orientation – a fundamental resource for researchers, civil society organisations, governments and the general … More ILGA’s 2019 State Sponsored Homophobia Report Reveals Much Needed For LGBTQ Equality & Human Rights

Trinidad and Tobago Decriminalize Onerous Anti-LGBT Sexuality Laws

April 12, 2018

The High Court in Trinidad and Tobago delivered a verdict today striking down the old buggery law that criminalized homosexuality. ​Justice Devindra Rampersad will deliver his final ruling in three months and the Island LGBTQI communities celebrate: In March 2017, Jason Jones, an LGBT activist, took the government of Trinidad and Tobago to court, filing a lawsuit to strike down the so-called “buggery law”, … More Trinidad and Tobago Decriminalize Onerous Anti-LGBT Sexuality Laws

Colombian Constitutional Court Rules Same-sex Couples can Adopt

November 6, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, November 06, 2015. In a victory for the country’s LGBT community, the Colombian Constitutional Court ruled on November 4, 2015, that same-sex couples in Colombia can adopt children. Previously couples could only adopt a child if it was the offspring of one of the partners, but after hours of debate a 6-2 … More Colombian Constitutional Court Rules Same-sex Couples can Adopt

Belize Government and Christian right fight Supreme Court Challenge to decriminalize homosexuality

May 5, 2013

Getting rid of the old British Colonial penal code criminalizing homosexuality in Central America… By Cathy Kristofferson,  May 05, 2013 The nation of Belize, bordered by Mexico and Guatemala, is the last country in Central America where homosexual acts are still illegal and punishable by long prison terms.  But that could change for Belize and set … More Belize Government and Christian right fight Supreme Court Challenge to decriminalize homosexuality

The Pope who led the failed crusade against gay marriage in Argentina

March 13, 2013

Just Another Anti-Gay Pope By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson,  March  13, 2013. When white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel today, heralding a new Pope, LGBTI communities around the world were not expecting anything more than another religious leader to work actively against secular legal rights. Choosing the name Pope Francis,  Cardinal Bergoglio, of … More The Pope who led the failed crusade against gay marriage in Argentina

AIDS 2012 to Discuss HIV and World Travel Bans

July 21, 2012

Dr Paul de Lay, Deputy Executive Director of the UNAIDS Programme said “Every individual should have the right to freedom of movement, regardless of their HIV status. UNAIDS is opposed to any restriction imposed on people living with HIV and restricting movement only on the basis of their HIV status. These restrictions are discriminatory.”
… More AIDS 2012 to Discuss HIV and World Travel Bans

United Kingdom Publishes New Human Rights Report

April 30, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, April 30, 2012. While the United States has yet to publish its annual (2011)  Human Rights Report, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office issued its  392 page report on human rights today and  the LGBT section can be found at page 68 as follows:- Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights The Government is … More United Kingdom Publishes New Human Rights Report

Atlantis Cruise Gay Passengers Arrested in Dominica for Sexual Contact on Deck

March 22, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/22/2012 Gay Cruise and Safari community if you had been reading my blog for a while you may have noticed that  I have been talking about the criminalization of homosexuality in many African countries to which we cruise and peruse!  I have mentioned our hypocrisy as a an LGBT community for conducting … More Atlantis Cruise Gay Passengers Arrested in Dominica for Sexual Contact on Deck

IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas

March 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/02/2012, Washington, D.C. – On February 24 and 25, 2012 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a meeting of independent experts on “Violence and Impunity against Lesbians, Gays, and Trans, Bisexual and Intersex Persons” (LGTBI). More than 20 experts attended the meeting organized by the IACHR under the auspices of … More IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas