Latin America: The LGBTQ Fight Moves From Activism To Politics

Throughout Latin America, activists who have led the promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights from the private sphere have slowly jumped into the political arena. As noted in Latin America Goes Global (LAGG) – a news and opinion site – fresh political leaders are now building a platform for the cause to enact laws seeking equal rights and sanctioning against violence toward the LGBTQ community. By some estimates, around 70 openly LGBTQ people currently hold elected and government positions in the region. And for a continent marred by prejudice, this is a very positive development.

Because of this transition to politics, several countries have secured legal gains in the fight for equality. The second article in LAGG's series, for example, offers details about the fight for marriage equality in Panama and Chile. Indeed, these two countries, among the most conservative and religious in the region, may turn out to be the sixth and seventh to allow same-sex marriage – they would follow Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay. 

But while Latin America has made quite rapid progress on the legal front, there is still rampant violence against the LGBTQ community (CNN). People still feel scared. And while many more people have "come out of the closet", they may still face rejection, institutional discrimination or outright violence.

This is why these activists-gone-politicians play a crucial role in the following years. They can ensure existing protections are enforced and extended to other, more marginalized groups. In LAGG's list, you'll find a selection of top young leaders working towards this goal.