News from Latin America and the Caribbean - October 17, 2013

Luana (“Lulú”) is six years old.  She is a trans girl who lives in Buenos Aires.  Protected by the gender identity law in Argentina, her mother had requested a document with her real identity, but the civil registry of the city then sent her to the department of Justice.  Thanks to the intervention of local organizations, like the Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA) and the Instituto Nacional contra la Discriminación, la Xenofobia y el Racismo (INADI), the provincial and national governments decided in favor of granting the document.  Today Lulú now has a document that respects her self-perceived gender identity.   Dear friends of ILGA-LAC, We hope you are doing well!  We want to let you know what has been happening in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.  This weekly bulletin of ilgalac.org is sent to LGBT groups and allied organizations around the world—in Spanish, Portuguese and English--, and its goal is to be an inclusive communication medium for all of the LGBT movement.  So we invite you to send us news and articles. Join us on Facebook! OUR MOVEMENT IN LATINA AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 28 de septiembre is a space for political expression of the feminist movement, to promote public and political debate and propose to create the conditions for safe, legal abortions with quality care in all countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Silueta X is a non-profit association whose mission is to fight for human rights of TILGB persons, with a target population of feminine and masculine transgender, transsexual and intersex youth. Colombia Diversa is a human rights organization that promotes full inclusion, respect for all rights, recognition and mobilization of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans persons (LGBT) in the economic, social, political and cultural spheres, with the goal of contributing to construction of a democratic, modern and socially just society in Colombia. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK In Argentina, a trans girl receives a DNI with her gender identity At a press conference held Wednesday, October 9, in the City of Buenos Aires, Luana (“Lulú”), six years old, received a document with her self-perceived gender identity.  The new documentation was given to the trans girl by the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Province of Buenos Aires, Lic. Alberto Pérez. Federalization of equality of marriage pushed in Mexico The Campaña Nacional por el Matrimonio Igualitario( National Campaign for Marriage Equality) in Mexico is asking for a declaration from the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights (ICHR) for same sex couples to be legalized everywhere in the country. A Guianan advises the World Bank on LGBT poverty Kemraj Persaud, coordinator of the program Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), in Guiana, provided advice concerning poverty of LGBT persons during annual meetings of the World Bank and the World Monetary Fund that took place between October 5 and 12 in Washington, D.C. Decriminalization and legalization of abortion in Latin American and the Caribbean In most of the region authorities do not guarantee safe, free and interruption of pregnancy free of stigma; in six countries it is totally prohibited and penalized.  On the Day to Fight for Decriminalization and Legalization of Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean, the organization “28 de septiembre” restated that legal and safe abortion is a matter of rights and, as such, a matter of democracy. General and extreme violence against trans persons denounced Organizations, associations and activists for the defense of human and civil rights of trans persons decried the generalized extreme violence and killings that trans persons suffer, for just being themselves, throughout the world and, especially, in Latin America. Annulment of a gay marriage in Colombia will not create a precedent  Facing annulment of the most recent marriages between same sex couples, celebrated by the Colombian justices under auspices of the C-577 sentence of 2011, the organization Colombia Diversa reported that the move will not affect every case. Oral arguments in the trial for the crime against Daniel Zamudio in Chile begin  The trial has begun against the four accused of the brutal beating of the young gay man Daniel Zamudio which took place on the morning of March 3, 2012, as a result of which he would finally die at the end of this month. The Armed Forces of Brazil recognize LGBT members The Armed Forces of Brazil officially recognized that at least 29 of its members are married and have stable unions with persons of the same sex, and that they have the right to benefits given to heterosexual couples. Pride Marches celebrated throughout the región During the first weekend in October Gay Pride Marches took place in six important cities in South America:  Rosario (Argentina), Asunción (Paraguay) and Santiago (Chile). In Peru, Vargas Llosa leads a declaration in favor of homosexual civil unions The declaration, titled “Yes to equality,” was signed by various personalities to support a bill that proposes a civil union between persons of the same sex in Peru. To publish an article in ilgalac.org, apply to become a member of ILGA or renew your membership, contact: ilga-lac@ilga.org Leandro Fogliatti / ILGA-LAC, with the help of Michael Roskey. ilga-lac@ilga.org