Central America
Belize gay rights campaigner is facing more death threats, says lawyer
Caleb Orozco, fighting to overturn country’s anti-gay laws, is said to have faced more threats of violence since start of court case Death threats against Caleb Orozco, the gay rights campaigner attempting to overturn laws that criminalise homosexuality in Belize, have escalated during the four-day courtroom hearing, his lawyer has claimed. The high-profile challenge to… Read more »
Activist challenges Belize’s church and state over anti-gay law
In a climate of anti-gay moral panic, Caleb Orozco leads a fight to force Belize to repeal its law punishing gay sex with up to ten years imprisonment Caleb Orozco, an LGBT rights advocate is taking to court Belize’s government and an anti-gay religious lobby in an attempt to overturn the country’s anti-gay sex law.… Read more »
USAID launches partnership to promote LGBT rights
The U.S. Agency for International Development on Monday unveiled a public-private partnership designed to promote LGBT rights around the world. USAID will work with the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency, the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law and Olivia Companies on… Read more »
Honduras reforms its penal code to end human right violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity
Honduras is moving a step closer to the UNAIDS vision of ‘zero discrimination’. Its Congress has recently adopted a reform of the Penal Code that will ensure legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. “This has been a historic step for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Intersex (LGBTI) populations that have… Read more »
Indigenous LGBT political leaders bring concerns to D.C.
On Saturday, March 16, indigenous LGBT elected officials and candidates from North and South America provided testimony at a public hearing at the Inter American Commission on Human Rights at the Organization of American States. Three leaders representing indigenous populations in Bolivia, Mexico and the United States testified at the panel “Situation of the Human… Read more »
Inciting hatred will be punished in Honduras
The reform was introduced by the addition to Article 321, whereby sanctions are taken against people who publicly, through the media, inciting racial discrimination either or sexual orientation and gender identity. On February 21, 2013 becomes a historic day for the LGBT community in Honduras, after long years of struggle process where organizations like LGTB… Read more »
Mexico’s Highest Court Declares Law Banning Gay Marriage Unconstitutional
The Mexican Supreme Court (la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion) on Monday declared a law in the state of Oaxacan limiting marriage to heterosexual couples to be in violation of the country’s constitution. According to the Washington Blade, the court cited two groundbreaking U.S. Supreme Court civil rights cases, Loving v. Virginia and… Read more »
Gay Murders in Belize
In Belize there have been over 300 murders since 2010 (145 the most in a year ever in 2012). Of that there were 27 murders of gay men in its various forms between 1997-2012. The recent murders of the four men is a sign of the times and how our LGBT organizations operating environment is… Read more »
Belize Human Rights Defenders Crime and Violence Data
Previous to this a report was circulated that was noted as not exhaustive. We have looked thoroughly through our files and are able to pull together current data that we can verify as having on file or have collected have newspaper clippings. The total cases we have accumulated is 73 and counting from 1997-2012. This… Read more »
Blind Alleys
The Unseen Struggles of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Urban Refugees in Mexico, Uganda and South Africa PART I Guidance for NGOs, Governments, UNHCR & Program Funders Read PDF Source – Oram International
Barrow meets with Belize gang leaders in the aftermath of brutal murders (Non gay background story)
Belmopan, Belize – Prime Minister Dean Barrow has confirmed holding talks with the leaders of a notorious criminal gang here after four men were found murdered in an apartment building on Tuesday. Barrow told reporters that he led a delegation that included National Security Minister John Saldivar for talks with the leaders of the George… Read more »
Opponents Block Debate On Gay Unions In Costa Rica
Lawmakers opposed to gay rights on Tuesday blocked debate of a civil unions bill in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly. Opponents called 3 15-minute recesses in a row as lawmakers attempted to debate the bill, prompting the chamber’s president, Victor Emilio, to table the discussion and bring the evening session to a close. Two years ago,… Read more »
Mexican State Oaxaca To Legalize Gay Marriage
The Mexican state of Oaxaca will legalize gay marriage after the nation’s top court unanimously declared its marriage law, which excludes gay and lesbian couples, to be unconstitutional. On Wednesday, the nation’s Supreme Court (la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion (SCJN)) sided with three gay couples who wish to marry in the state.… Read more »
Costa Rica to develop HIV strategies to reach male sex workers
The Minister of Health of Costa Rica, Dr Daisy Corrales, aims to strengthen the AIDS response among key populations at higher risk in her country, which is where the epidemic remains concentrated. During a meeting with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé on 6 November at the UNAIDS Headquarters in Geneva, Dr Corrales highlighted the focus… Read more »
Guatemalan transgender woman lives in 2 worlds
Dressed as a man, the sixth-grade teacher leaves school and walks several blocks through a dangerous red-light district overrun with gangs and crack dealers. Arriving at a friend’s home, a transformation begins. Off come wide-leg jeans, T-shirt and a baseball cap that hides long hair. After an extensive, two-hour makeup session, Linda Elizabeth Tylor Martinez… Read more »
Do you have advice for LGBT rights activists in Belize?
Caleb Orozco of United Belize Advocacy Movement (Photo courtesy of CTagOnline) What strategy should an LGBT rights group pursue when homophobic religious leaders launch a counterattack? That’s what Caleb Orozco, executive president of the United Belize Advocacy Movement, wants to know. He is hoping that experienced LGBT activists and others around the world will make… Read more »
Guatemalan Transgender Woman Lives Double Life, As A Male Schoolteacher And Female Prostitute
Guatemala City — Dressed as a man, the sixth-grade teacher leaves school and walks several blocks through a dangerous red-light district overrun with gangs and crack dealers. Arriving at a friend’s home, a transformation begins. Off come wide-leg jeans, T-shirt and a baseball cap that hides long hair. After an extensive, two-hour makeup session, Linda… Read more »
Feature: Decriminalising homosexuality in Belize
Caleb Orozco is the executive president of the United Belize Advocacy Movement, UNIBAM, and is part of a constitutional challenge to overturn the law in Belize which criminalises homosexuality. Visiting London, he briefed PinkNews.co.uk on the case. Under Belize’s Criminal Code, gays face a penalty of up to ten years’ imprisonment. Section 53 states: “Every… Read more »
Mexico grants social security benefits to gay couples
Amendments to social security law now include medical and social benefits to gay spouses Mexico now includes gay couples as beneficiaries to social security benefits. Winning 252 votes for, 80 against and 15 abstentions, in the country’s House of Representatives these amendments improve the constitutional rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual Mexicans. As a Latin… Read more »
Remembering Erick Martinez
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is deeply saddened by the murder of Erick Martínez, a renowned LGBT rights advocate who served as the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at Asociación Kukulcan, a respected LGBT rights organization in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Erick was a fearless human rights defender, respected and appreciated by his peers and… Read more »
Nicaragua enthrones Miss Gay 2012
A beauty contest in Nicaragua has crowned a 22-year-old designer as Miss Gay 2012, a competition to choose “the queen of the transvestites.” The event was held at the Ruben Dario National Theater, the first time the space opened to an LGBT event, according to Luis Morales, the director of Institute of Nicaraguan Culture. It… Read more »
Razzia violenta en discoteca gay de Costa Rica
San Jose – (La Nacion) El aparente uso de fuerza excesiva en un operativo policial realizado en la discoteca homosexual Club Oh!, el 13 de abril levantó críticas y motivó denuncias. Representantes del centro nocturno dijeron que más de 20 funcionarios de la Fuerza Pública y la Policía Municipal ingresaron armados al establecimiento, lo que… Read more »
Julio Cesar Largaespada, grieved by the death of Eddy Ramirez
Outside his home was killed by several blows the young Napoleon Eddy Ramirez Novoa, 27. The suspects in the crime are the brothers Milton Rafael (36), alias “Payo” Jose Ramon (32) and Oscar Garcia Lopez (25). Similarly Largaespada Julius Caesar, who was a partner of the victim, was beaten and was taken to Hospital Escuela… Read more »
Costa Rica’s LGBT community mourns death of leader
A friend pays his respects to LGBT leader Abelardo Araya, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday. Araya helped found the Movimiento Diversidad (Diversity Movement), a political group that worked to promote LGBT rights in Costa Rica. Renowned Costa Rican LGBT activist Abelardo Araya died Wednesday of an apparent heart attack at the age… Read more »
Honduras is test of new US policy on gay rights
San Pedro Sula, Honduras – From U.N. chambers to the halls of the State Department, global pressure on countries to protect the rights of homosexuals and transgender people is rising. For Josue Hernandez, the new emphasis can’t come fast enough. The 33-year-old gay activist bears the scar of the bullet that grazed his skull in… Read more »
Cancun Plans to Pass Gay Marriage Bill to Attract Tourists
Cancun and other resort areas on the Mexican Caribbean will have a new attraction for gay and lesbian couples from the United States, Canada and Europe, allowing them to legalize their unions thanks to a quirk in the local civil code, activist Patricia Novelo told Efe. “This market niche … is very attractive for European,… Read more »
Discrimination Undermines AIDS Prevention
Guatemala City (IPS) – “At the clinic we were attended to by a woman who criticised us and only talked to us about religious questions,” says Carlos Valdez of Proyecto Unidos, an NGO in Guatemala that fights for access to HIV/AIDS prevention services by homosexuals and sex workers. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people “face… Read more »
Senate GOP filibusters nominee over pro-gay editorial
Senate Republicans successfully filibustered on Monday the confirmation of an ambassadorial nominee, citing a pro-LGBT editorial she wrote as one reason to vote against her. The cloture vote to advance the nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte for the position of U.S. ambassador to El Salvador failed by 49-37 on a mostly party-line basis. Aponte has… Read more »
Hispanic Caucus urges Senate to confirm Obama’s pick for El Salvador ambassador
Washington — Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Tuesday pressed the Senate to swiftly confirm President Barack Obama’s nominee for ambassador to El Salvador, casting Republican opposition as denying a Hispanic woman a rare shot at a prestigious diplomatic post. In gloves-off political terms, seven members of the caucus said the Senate’s failure to… Read more »
Gay Mexico News & Reports 2011
1 México se encamina hacia una Constitución más tolerante con los gays 3/11 2 Conapred dice que no aumentó la homofobia en los últimos cinco años 4/11 3 Mexican gay rights campaigner murdered 5/11 4 Mexican gay rights campaigner murdered 5/11 5 Mexican LGBT center helps with HIV work 6/11 6 Condemnation of the Murder… Read more »
Gay Honduras News & Reports 2011
1 Six trans women killed in Honduras in two months 2/11 2 Activists: Investigate Honduran Transgender Murders 2/11 3 Abuso policial contra homosexuales en Honduras 4/11 4 Fighting homophobia 7/11 5 Ricky Martin’s Sexuality Threatens Honduras’ Morality 10/11 1 February 2011 – PinkNews 1 Six trans women killed in Honduras in two months by PinkNews.co.uk… Read more »
My friend Alvin marks the birth of a movement.
We have had this Ex-Gay minister here for a week and apparently the LGBT community has reached a boiling point. A second protest was held today at the University of the West Indies for this vile and peculiar person to spout his misinformation. I assume that UWI will also be hosting the KKK when they… Read more »
Gay Mexico News & Reports 2009-10
1 Same-sex union sets precedent in Mexico City’s most countrified corner 1/09 2 Clarification of Statement on Homosexuality 1/09 3 What’sNew in…Puerto Vallarta 3/09 4 Mexico sees rare, openly gay mayoral candidate 3/09 5 Gay resort owner fights negative news about Mexico 4/09 6 Mexico: Homophobic cell-phone store ad 4/09 7 In macho culture, gays… Read more »
Gay Mexico News & Reports 2007-08
1 Mexican state near Texas passes gay union law 1/07 2 Gay Man From Mexico Wins U.S. Asylum 1/07 3 Transgendered in Coahuila 1/07 4 Lesbians form Mexico’s first gay civil union 2/07 5 Mexican singer breaks gay taboo 3/07 6 New law propels gay rights in Mexico 3/07 7 In Mexico, gay couples ready… Read more »
Gay Mexico News & Reports 2004-06
1 Mexico’s gays, lesbians trying to win rights 1/04 2 Macho Mexico lets its hair down in Zona Rosa 2/04 3 Rainbow Beach Towels on Mexican Sand in Puerto Vallarta 5/04 4 Destination Mexico–Cancún proving it can woo gay travelers too 6/04 5 Mexico May OK Conjugal Visits for Gays 9/04 6 Gay Caballeros Inside… Read more »
Gay Central America News & Reports (All Central America)
1 HIV prevention hampered by homophobia 1/09 2 LGBT Rights Movement: Progress and Visibility Breed Backlash 6/09 3 Report: Inequalities Fueling AIDS Pandemic In Latin America 11/09 4 Coalition Of LGBTTTI…Supports The Approval Of…Human Rights, Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity 6/10 5 Commentary: Stop discrimination against Blacks and gays 11/10 6 Launch Campaign "Cures That… Read more »
Gay Belize News & Reports
Also see: Lesbian Life 1 Pride in Belize, an Adult Education Volunteer Report 8/06 2 Comments from a Belizean Lesbian 4/09 3 Belize: Protect Students from Discrimination and Expulsion 12/09 4 Good Day All: 5/10 5 Transgender Belizean Discriminated Against at Airport 4/11 6 Belize churches join GOB in court battle against homosexuals 5/11 7… Read more »
Gay Costa Rica News & Reports
1 Costa Rica backs International Day Against Homophobia 5/08 2 Costa Rican Christians protest against gay marriage 7/08 3 Letter from Catholic Action to the country’s representatives in government 12/08 4 Costa Rica’s First Woman President Doesn’t Want Gay Marriage 2/10 5 Costa Rica: Granting Rights for Same-Sex Couples 2/10 6 Thousands March Against Gay… Read more »
Gay El Salvador News & Reports
1 El Salvador–Demand Official Investigation Into the Murders in El Salvador 4/05 2 New police attack underscores dire gay situation 12/06 2a Gay Pride in Latin America 7/07 2b El Salvador – William Herrnandez, Asociación Entre Amigos 11/07 3 Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report 8/08 4 Ministerial decree to reduce homophobia in health service 4/09 5… Read more »
Gay Guatemala News & Reports
1 Guatemala’s Maya Majority Flexes Its Political Muscles 8/96 2 Guatemalan Gays Hold First March 6/00 2a How To Be A Lesbian In Guatemala 10/00 3 Guatemala: Lesbian Activists Threatened 7/04 4 A Short History of Gay Guatemala 2004 5 Guatemalan Gays, Transgenders Victims Of Deadly Attacks 2/06 6 Transgender prostitutes get political to end… Read more »
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