LGBTI+ persons in Latin America face multiple roadblocks to accessing their human rights and are victims of violence and discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. These barriers create inequality among the population and perpetuate the stigma and prejudice against LGBTI+ persons. Every day, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (transexuals, travestis, transfeminine, transmasculinities, non-binary trans) and intersex people face limiting obstacles to exercising their fundamental rights and suffer attacks that put their lives and integrity at risk. Despite some countries’ important advances in recognizing the rights of LGBTI+ persons – such as the recognition of gender identity on official documents or marriage equality – the region continues to lag behind in the protection of this population. As such, people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression face dangerous risks in countries like Brazil, which has the highest number of homicides against trans persons in the world.
For the work with LGBTI+ persons, it is crucial to implement an intersectional approach that recognizes the many differences and living experiences within the population. Factors such as gender, race and/or ethnicity, social class, disparities, etc. are essential to understanding the complexities of sexuality and gender identity.
Our Work with LGBTI+ persons
Race and Equality has focused its work to:
- Promote the effective participation of LGBTI+ civil society organizations and activists before the Organization of Americas States (OAS). We do this through promoting registrations within the OAS, promoting participation at the OAS Summit of the Americas and the General Assemblies and being in permanent communication with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and their Rapporteurships.
- Promote investigations and documentation that highlight the realities of LGBTI+ persons, particularly Afro-LGBTI+, trans and nonbinary persons.
- Promote the effective participation of LGBTI+ civil society organizations before the United Nations (UN). We do this through capacity-building workshops, promoting participation during UN country revision processes and being in permanent communication with UN Special Procedures and Committees.
