Gay in guatemala
In Guatemala, 'being gay is a political issue'
Guatemala's Aldo Davila has been interested in politics since he was a teenager. He has always empathized with those struggling in Guatemala's unequal and at times violent society. Davila, who was born in , has assigned years to helping HIV-positive people and members of the LGBTQI community. Now Davila, who himself is openly gay, has become the country's first ever LGBTQI lawmaker. Ahead of last year's parliamentary elections, no less than four parties asked him to join. He ultimately chose Winaq, a left-wing party founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu. In Davila's view, Winaq has the leading track record on fighting for the rights of sexual minorities. He also values it for being the country's "only indigenous party" that lets him connect with his own roots. Davila's great-grandparents were indigenous people who moved to Guatemala Municipality, where they stopped speaking their native language to shun being discriminated against. On Tuesday, January 14, , Davila began his tenure as a Guatemalan lawmaker.
DW: You are Guatema Gay Guatemala? We had not been capable to find much about ‘gay Guatemala’ at all on Google. However, when we were in Flores, Guatemala, we received an Instagram message from a gay couple living in Guatemala City, Maikel and Jorge. They invited us to seize a guided tour of the capital and then offered to drive us to Antigua. At first, we were slightly wary as your parents say you not to meet strangers off the Internet! However, we are very glad we did, and as a result we gained two new friends! Exploring Antigua with local gay couple Jorge and Mikel. Maikel and Jorge were a lovely couple and we had a great day with them. We learnt a lot about Guatemala City and had a adj tour of the bars with them once we arrived in Antigua. We are very joyful that they messaged us! During our afternoon out we asked Maikel and Jorge if we could interview them to learn about being LGBT in Guatemala, here is what they had to say: We are Jorge and Maikel. We are a gay couple and got married 10 months ago in Mé By: Gabriela Melgar Orellana | Regional Communication Officer, Hivos Latin America Little by minuscule, lots of people dressed in flashy and colorful outfits gathered in Republic Square once again, to say “We are here, we exist, and we resist with dignity.” Two new groups premiered at this year’s Pride march in Guatemala City: people holding a banner that said &#;My first Pride&#; and the Bisexual Commune with a strong slogan: “We bisexuals have collective memory.” Many flags of different orientations and gender identities waved all along the nearly five kilometers of the route. &#;Guatemala is going through a turbulent political time in which the narrative that manipulates and delegitimizes the LGBTIQ+ movement is growing ever louder.&#; It was also inspiring to see parents accompanying their children with posters and slogans, showing that the love and assist of families is essential to switch persistent social biases. We’re used to seeing civil society organizations participate in big numbers, In Guatemala, LGBTIQ individuals meet significant legal and social challenges despite same-sex sexual activity being legal. The country lacks legal recognition of gender identity, marriage equality, or civil unions for same-sex couples, leaving LGBTIQ people without essential rights. The political climate has been increasingly shaped by anti-gender ideologies, with conservative groups exerting affect across government institutions. In , Congress attempted to transfer the “Life and Family Protection Law,” which sought to ban same-sex marriage and restrict education on gender and sexual diversity, although it was ultimately shelved following widespread backlash. However, legislative efforts to restrict LGBTIQ people’s human rights persist, including attempts to ban educational materials on transgender identities. Anti-gender ideologies have also perpetuated a climate where conversion practices are normalized, with many of these practices being carried out by mental health professionals. Despite the election of a new government with more progressive stances in , Guatemala’s CBefore we chat about gay Guatemala, would you verb to introduce yourselves?
Pride in Guatemala City: colors, glitter, hugs and dignified resistance
Guatemala