International LGBT Roundup: Homophobia in Latin America

by Michael Jones · 2009-01-14 01:53:00 UTC
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World GlobeThis week's International roundup keeps us in Latin America, where we're bouncing around from Mexico to Brazil, to Honduras and Chile.  As we're about to hit sub-zero temperatures here in the Northeast, please don't hold it against us that we're writing about warmer climates...!

Brazil and Mexico:  Brazil and Mexico share a spot on the roundup this week, since they're the focal point of an article this week about how homophobia in Latin America is hindering efforts at improving public health.  The following two statistics nearly knocked us off our rockers: (1) Every two or three days a person is killed in Brazil in violence connected with his or her sexuality; and (2) in Mexico, the reported figure is nearly two deaths a week.  Though no country in Latin America criminalizes homosexuality, there's still pervasive homophobia, according to UN AIDS.  As they point out, the threat of violence toward LGBT persons in these two countries (and throughout Latin America) hinders efforts to prevent HIV, and also affects the mental health of the LGBT population.

Chile: Sandra Cecilia Pavez Pavez had more than 23 years teaching experience.  But when she came out as a lesbian to church officials, she was removed from her job and told to get psychological counseling by the Bishop of the San Bernardo Diocese, Bishop Juan Ignacio Gonzalez Errazuriz.  Pavez has now filed a case in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, charging discrimination and wrongful termination of her employment.  According to her lawyer, Rolando Jimenez of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, "Sandra's case demonstrates how sexual minorities do not have rights in the eyes of this country's judicial system, and the only option left is to seek international assistance."

Honduras:  A leading transgender activist was murdered last week in Honduras, drawing calls from international organizations for Honduran police to launch an investigation into ongoing violence against the trans community.  Cynthia Nicole was a leader with Colectivo Violeta, an organization working to defend the rights and health of transgender people.  She was found murdered on January 9, though her attack followed two months of sustained attacks on the Honduran trans community, which included two additional fatalities in November and December.  According to Human Rights Watch, "The authorities need to find and prosecute the perpetrators of this and previous attacks against the trans community....If authorities fail to investigate attacks, victims have no reason to report them - and are ready targets for reprisals."

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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