Lawmakers in Chile have responded to the murder of Daniel Zamudio by passing a gay-inclusive anti-discrimination law.
Zamudio died March 27 from injuries he received during an attack in a park in Santiago on March 3. Police have arrested 4 suspects who have been charged with beating Zamudio for an hour, burning him with cigarettes and carving Nazi symbols into his body. Officials believe the 24-year-old Zamudio was targeted because he is gay.
The House of Deputies this week joined the Senate in approving the anti-discrimination bill which was first proposed in 2005. Evangelical churches had lobbied heavily against the measure, arguing it would lead to the eventual legalization of gay marriage, the AP reported.
Discrimination made illegal by the law is defined as “any distinction, exclusion or restriction that lacks reasonable justification, committed by agents of the state or individuals, and that causes the deprivation, disturbance or threatens the legitimate exercise of fundamental rights.”
President Sebastian Pinera had urged lawmakers to approve the measure.
“Since Daniel’s aggressive murder happened, we’ve been learning how we are going to construct effective protected society with more love, where no one, no one is discriminated against for any reason. Because all Chileans have the same rights,” Vice President Rodrigo Hinzpeter told reporters.
by On Top Magazine Staff
Source – On Top Magazine
