Gay Rights In Colombia – A Sad State of Affairs!

gay-rights-in-colombiaIf you you are gay and live in a country like The United States or Canada, then you have it easy.

When my Colombian girlfriend told me how messed up things were in Colombia for lesbians, I couldn’t believe such a great country could have such a backwards view on gay rights.  But upon doing a bit of research I discovered that she was right.  Below are some stories from the web that illustrate the sad state of affairs in Colombia - But also give a bit of hope to all those Colombian women suffering in this backwards, male dominated society…

My journey: 30 years of LGBT and human rights activism in

http://blog.aidsalliance.org2/17/12

These include some reflections specific to Lesbian women in Colombia. There is In Colombia, a country with serious human rights problems, there is a clear gap between official rhetoric and the legal framework and reality.

The human rights situation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals – Eldis

http://www.eldis.org1/25/13

This report contends that in order to comply with clear international obligations, Colombia has recognised, with important jurisprudence, that lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgenders (LGBT) are individuals with full human rights and

gay-couple

Colombian court confirms equal rights for same-sex couples

http://www.pinknews.co.uk1/29/09

Gay and lesbian couples in Colombia are entitled to the same rights as straight couples in common-law marriages, the country’s Constitutional Court ruled yesterday.

Colombian LGTB Community Recognizes Progress While Calling

http://rhrealitycheck.org2/27/09

colombian-mapColombian LGBT organizations recognized some legal advancement regarding equal rights, but noted that the progress was due to legal demands made by individuals, not a consequence of a public policy or a legislative action. Colombian organizations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transvestite, transformer, trans and intersex persons (LGBTTTTI) recently disclosed a report submitted to the Colombian government regarding the state of LGBTTTTI rights in

Let’s just hope that things keep progressing in the right direction. I would like to be able to visit Colombian with my girlfriend and not get stared down by some macho Colombian dude.

Gay And Lesbian Centers – A Place Where People Feel Accepted

gay and lesbianMany cities in the United States have a Gay and Lesbian Center, which offer a place for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people to organize and congregate. The centers are often geared towards maintaining or improving the position of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in society in a myriad of ways.

Gay and Lesbian centers proactively battle against gender identity discrimination, and work to create acceptance in society for gay and lesbian people. They are places from which activities are organized which promote equality, human rights and well-being. They often play a role in representing gay and lesbian people and promoting their image.

The centers are usually a place for people to come to for help with health problems, legal advice, education or career support. Gays and lesbians sometimes face issues in society that have to do with their sexual orientation, and the centers often provide support for these issues. For instance, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in New York has a broad program for gay or lesbian couples who are looking to start a family.

Gay and lesbian centers usually offer space where social activities are organized. These activities can be discussion groups, drug rehabilitation courses, cultural events or art classes. These programs are often specially geared towards a certain group (gays, lesbians, transgender people or bisexuals). The programs are a good opportunity for many people to engage in social activities and to meet new people with the same sexual orientation.

Many of the centers are committed to the battle against HIV and AIDS. The centers organize prevention programs focused on sexual education and creating awareness of HIV. The centers usually provide support for HIV positive persons through counseling and social support. Usually there is the possibility for persons to test on HIV. The HIV and AIDS programs are for straight as well as gay persons.

To sum up, gay and lesbian Centers are places that guard the rights of Gay and Lesbian people. They are places where people can find support, places which improve the well-being of gays, lesbians and transgender people. Many gays and lesbians still struggle to find their place in society, and the centers offer refuge and support to those who need it. The purpose of gay and lesbian centers is to offer people a place to engage in a community where they can be themselves, and where they can feel accepted regardless of their sexual orientation.