CIVICUS discusses the struggle for LGBTQI+ rights in Chile with Ramón Gómez, human rights officer of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (MOVILH). Founded in 1991, MOVILH is a civil society organisation that defends the rights of LGBTQI+ people.
In June 2024, a group of hooded men attacked the Pride march in the capital, Santiago de Chile. The attackers tried to break through the security fence protecting the marchers and attacked volunteers who tried to stop them. They beat activists and participants, threw rocks and paint at floats and damaged a truck. The attack came amid a climate of growing homophobia, including calls for a boycott of the event.
What advances and setbacks have there been for LGBTQI+ rights in Chile?
From 1991 until 2022, when the law on equal marriage was passed, Chile experienced accelerated change in favour of LGBTQI+ rights. This was reflected in the repeal of discriminatory regulations, the adoption of 18 protective laws and the introduction of anti-discrimination public policies in education, health and labour, as well as a positive cultural shift.
However, since 2022, both people and institutions that publicly supported LGBTQI+ rights have started being silenced, while opponents have reorganised. Hate speech has overtaken friendly speech, particularly on social media. This is partly due to the misconception that passing an equal marriage law will solve everything, and partly due to a retreat in democratic values that has brought anti-rights exponents into public office.
The consequences are alarming. Our annual report shows that 2023 was the worst year for the promotion of LGBTQI+ rights. Discrimination cases increased by almost 53 per cent, up to 1,597, the highest number recorded, while hate speech increased by 123 per cent.
This situation has been exacerbated by an unprecedented offensive by far-right groups that have gained power, particularly in the National Congress. Therefore, one of the main priorities for the LGBTQI+ movement is to campaign against hate speech and protect the rights that have been won.
How serious were the incidents at the Pride march?
At the last Pride march, a small group of no more than 10 hooded people carried out an attack with hate messages directed at marchers and activists. This attack, typical of anti-rights groups, was an unsuccessful attempt to undermine the peaceful nature that has historically characterised these marches, with the aim of portraying them as conflictual or dangerous to majority interests.
Although the government did not react specifically to this case, the Metropolitan Presidential Delegation played a key role in ensuring the smooth progress of the march, helping to maintain its peaceful character and protecting participants along the route. This intervention was crucial in preventing the incident escalating and preserving the inclusive and festive spirit of the march.
What are the priorities for LGBTQI+ rights, and how are organisations working to achieve them?
In addition to campaigning against hate speech, Chile needs a reform of the anti-discrimination law to provide effective protection and the approval of a comprehensive sex education law with a human rights perspective to strengthen cultural change in schools, educate young people about diversity and protect the rights of LGBTQI+ children and young people.
There are around 50 LGBTQI+ groups in Chile, spread throughout the country. Specialisation is a new way of working: the collectives that have emerged in the past decade focus exclusively on issues such as children and adolescents, education or health, and have a limited geographical scope of action, unlike the older movements that worked at a national level and tried to cover all areas. Regardless of the issues they address, collectives carry out communication campaigns and legislative and public policy advocacy, and form coalitions to leverage their expertise, present common demands – such as the reform of the anti-discrimination law – and confront the anti-rights offensive.
In addition, these groups do research on the reality of LGBTQI+ people in Chile, compile statistics on cases of discrimination and violence, provide legal and psychological counselling to victims and give talks and training workshops on sexual and gender diversity to public and private sector bodies.
Through this combination of expertise and collaboration, LGBTQI+ groups are able to address violence and discrimination more effectively and continue to advance rights.
How are local groups connected to the global movement and what international support do they need?
LGBTQI+ organisations in Chile are part of various international networks. MOVILH, for example, has worked with international organisations such as ILGA and is part of several Latin American and Ibero-American networks where organisations exchange experiences and join forces. In addition, LGBTQI+ collectives collaborate bilaterally with similar groups in other countries, sharing experiences and providing mutual support.
Globally, LGBTQI+ collectives need funding, as they are one of the vulnerable parts of society that globally receive the least resources. In the case of Chile, this need is constant, as the fact we are considered an upper-middle income country generally prevents groups receiving external funding. This has a negative impact on the struggle for equality, as the country lacks targeted state funding to address LGBTQI+ people’s needs.
Civic space in Chile is rated ‘narrowed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.
Get in touch with MOVILH through its website or its Facebook and Instagram pages, and follow @Movilh on Twitter.
