Gay strategy in Latin America

Last Friday, the Court in Mexico ruled that marriage between same sex was constitutionally valid, but its nationwide reach depended on how to submit a written version of this decision. In addition, lawmakers this week are also examining the validity of such marriages in the rest of the country and whether gays can adopt.

Given that Argentina recognized gay marriage nationwide and that since the late 90s the legislation of several countries across the region began to change for the rights of sexual minorities, " we can conclude that Latin America is more tolerant?

The first-hand impressions of the BBC correspondent in Mexico, Inma Gil, give an indication of what the situation.

"At the heart of Mexico City I saw an opening for homosexual relations is difficult to see even in European cities."

"This is relatively common to see gay couples in loving attitude, just like any other heterosexual couple, something beyond the borders of the gay neighborhood and the darkness of the night," says the correspondent.

However, "the difference between the City and the rest of the country is abysmal."

His observations seem consistent with what he found Javier Corrales, Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Amherst, Mass., who has been studying just this subject.

"Society is really changing and the trend is noticed in all democracies. The younger and secular respondents are, the higher their level of education and more gay people know, there is more acceptance," said Javier Corrales.

However, Corrales points out that, despite the changing society, "homophobia is a deeply rooted feature in societies with Hispanic heritage" and that therefore it is misleading to think that the achievements of the decade "to overcome centuries of organization heteronormative society. "

Cunning

And, despite the existence of "an important cultural change in the average citizen and less acceptance of sexual orientation discrimination," regardless of the laws, there are still situations of great discrimination, says the president of the Movement for Integration and Sexual Liberation Chile, Rolando Jimenez.

Among them murders, expulsions from work or family, homophobic harassment or discrimination in public places. "There is a long way to go," laments Jiménez, in conversation with BBC World.

Corrales notes that "on the other hand, there is also a religious movement popular in many Latin American countries: the evangelical groups or the Opus Dei, conservative groups in the Catholic Church ... so there is also a counter."

Because so many are manifested in fierce disagreement with the reforms, what explains the string of achievements in recent years?

In his remarks to the BBC, the analyst Javier Corrales partly attributed the consecration of these reforms to the work groups known as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender), who left radicalism and despair and began to adopt strategies intelligent.

States that have made a great effort to "build alliances with major political groups in Latin America. They work with parties in power; work with anyone who is provided to help them, no matter if it's left or right."

In addition, he stressed that "they also work with the private sector to create the impression that gay groups have purchasing power and, therefore, is a group that should be cultivated."

And do not forget his presence in pop culture, said Corrales, "instigate debates, influence of television, theater, throughout the culture area of Latin America ... The LGBT are aware that nothing unites a nation more a beautiful song or a good soap opera. " So while critics are branded as frivolous, what they get because this is far from it.

The analyst's findings are echoed in the statements of activist Jimenez, who said that "sexual minority organizations have to have the ability to act within the system, it means playing permanently with political and executive power, build alliances with other minority groups .

"It is not just protest but to create sensible proposals in accordance with the current cultural movement," he adds.

Why weddings?

Why weddings and other claims?

But is it reasonable to fight just to get married?

According to Corrales, definitely yes. In fact, what stands out as one of the most significant events in the struggle of the LGBT of this decade.

Not only is the topic provides a clear example to "show society that at the level of law, discrimination is a very large and that the State is not as secular as the Constitution says," but also gives them the opportunity to discuss with his critics in their own terms.

"Gay marriage puts conservatives in a difficult situation because they often use the argument that gay groups wanted sexual debauchery, perversion and promiscuity" but if homosexual couples want to regularize their situation, "requires the Conservatives oppose what they advocate, monogamy. "

Despite the division of public opinion, with Argentina are 10 countries that allow gay marriage: Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland.

Laura Fernandez
LineaCapital...