Venezuelans demand protection of LGBTI rights
Caracas, Sep 17 (EFE).- Several LGBTI rights organizations Friday urged the government to remove discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and effectively combat homo-lesbo-transphobia in the country.
A group of activists held protests in Caracas demanding the government to recognize and protect civil and political rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex and respond to incidents of hate crimes against members of the sexual minority community.
Activist Dani Toro told EFE that the protest march sought seeks to vindicate the rights of the LGBTI population “trampled and beaten” in Venezuela.
He said at least 12 incidents of hate crimes against LGBTI persons took place this year, especially between June and July, which is when various celebrations around Pride Day (June 28).
Toro said the marchers demanded that the government guarantee the rights of the sexual minority group “that has become more vulnerable in Venezuela today.”
He said Venezuela did not have comprehensive civil legislation protecting people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
“The absence of rights in Venezuela is very noticeable. Like in terms of equal marriage, gender identity law, the legal protection that people in general and particularly the LGBTI community need.”
On Sep.2, the LGBTI community urged the Venezuelan Ombudsman to deal with hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Yendri Velásquez, who works for nonprofit Somos, said the community in the country was suffering due to “a structural stagnation in the social, political and economic sphere.”
The activists asked the government to initiate deliberations on marriage rights, recognition of trans people, and recognition of home parental and lesbian-maternal families.
Venezuela is at the bottom of the list of South American countries, which have recognized and protected the LGBTI population.
The country does not allow the civil union of same-sex persons, and it is not possible to change identity to trans people.
There is no mechanism for the protection of home parental families. EFE
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