Chile, South America

Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. Although homosexuality was legalized in 1998 in Chile, several court rulings within the last decade demonstrate discriminatory policy. In Chile the current law against sodomy states that the age of consent for homosexuals is set at 18, whereas the age of consent for heterosexual sex is lower at 12.

Activists believe that conservative attitudes are changing, finding greater public tolerance as Chile's Congress debates striking "offenses to morals and good customs" clauses "that police have used to harass gays, even for behavior such as holding hands in public". The gay scene is small compared with the West or even neighbors like Argentina and Brazil, although 2007 marked the 17th annual Gay Pride Parade in Santiago. See gay rights in Chile.

 

News & Reports:

 

Gay Chile News & Reports 2011

1 2012 Census Questions Include Sexual Diversity 1/11 2 Lesbian judge in Chile fights for new US laws 4/11 3 Chilean president seeks ‘regulation and protection’ for gay couples 5/11 4 First Time a Chilean Deputy in Congress Defends Homophobia 6/11 4a The Pride of Santiago 7/11 5 Chilean President Agrees to Recognize Gay Couples… Read more »

Gay Chile News & Reports 2003-10

1 Bill to support same-sex couples advances in Chile 6/03 2 Judge scandal is step back for homosexuals in Chile 11/03 3 Anti-AIDS commercials in Chile spark media backlash 12/03 4 Ruling forces gay parents to choose between closet, parenting rights 7/04 5 September 14-17: 3rd Regional Conference 8/04 6 Chiles’s Supreme Court Accused of… Read more »

Santiago

In some ways, Santiago has a head start in appealing to an international audience. The bustling urban area with six million inhabitants has the lowest crime rate of large South American cities. The recently elected female, socialist president is committed to bringing Chile up from “developing nation” status to progressive, international player, and an already… Read more »