In Argentina, harassment causes suicide and Chile protests police assault on gay student

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Source: AG magazine
 
The Federación Arg LGBT (FALGBT, Argentina LGBT Federation) is concerned about recent reports of violence against lesbians, gays and transgender people. And activists in Chile want clarification of what happened with a detained gay Chilean living in Argentina.

The group says that harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity was crucial in two cases of suicide and police abuse in a third.

Near La Rioja, on 16 April, a teenager took the tragic decision to commit suicide after suffering homophobic bullying, teasing and violence in the town of Chepes Rioja.

More recently, on April 27, a transgender woman hanged herself in the Cerro San Bernardo on the outskirts of the city of Salta, having fled her home.

A young Chilean student, Maximiliano Sepúlveda, is reported as having experienced coercion, brutal police assault, illegal detention and sexual assault by other prisoners in Oberá.

The President of FALGBT, Esteban Paulone, said:

"We are seriously concerned about the various situations that we have learned over the last few days. Obviously the urgent need to implement public policies throughout the country, to respond to a reality of violence and harassment they have an important part of our collective."

He also said:

"The passage of the Equal Marriage Act meant a huge breakthrough in terms of rights, but much remains to be done. We must move forward on programs and activities that offer guarantees, security and integrity to the LGBT people and this is achieved by the state actions at all levels to urgently repair the high rights violations experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans."

The Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh, Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation of Chile) has made ​​representations to their country's foreign ministry requesting that the Argentine authorities source reliable information on the allegations by the student about what happened to him.

"We appreciate the speed with which Mr. Gonzalez [director of the Human Rights Directorate of the Chilean Foreign Ministry] is taking this case and, in particular, which will assist our compatriots in the neighboring country," said President Movilh, Rolando Jiménez.

International Day Against Homophobia events announced

The Intentional Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) has announced more events to take place on or around May17.

Fighting so-called 'reparative' therapies, aiming at "curing" sexual and gender diversity, is emerging as a theme.

A coalition of groups from Latin America and the Caribbean has launched a campaign called "Cures that kill". First signatories include the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology, Mariela Castro and the Mayor of Lima.

• Read the full appeal and sign the petition

In Peru a week long programme in Lima includes a national seminar on 'reparative' therapies.

In Italy, Catholics will hold a Vigil of Prayer for the victims of homophobia.

The Latin Americans are seeking support from the international community and the wider public.

The IDAHO Committee has an online "As I Am" campaign which aims to "celebrate our individualities and to honor the collective spirit that binds us all, connecting us to universal, inalienable and interconnected human rights that all people share". It has invited submissions of creative videos, artwork, or written statements "about respecting a person for ALL of who they are".

May 17, the 20 national editions of the free daily METRO, read by 17 million people, will be edited by Lady Gaga. There is a contest for Gaga assistants.

Turkish LGBT group KAOS GL will launch a regional network against homophobia, as part of the sixth international IDAHO conference in Ankara. They said:

"The Conference for Middle East and Balkan Countries’ Homosexuals was a dream when we declared our foundation 16 years ago and shaped our liberation perspective. Liberation and survival struggles of LGBT in our region has always been a constant consideration for Kaos GL, one of the first LGBT organisations in Turkey. The reflections of all ethnic, religious and cultural diversity seen in the Middle Eastern, Caucasus and Balkan countries exist in Turkey’s society. Kaos GL has strived for this diversity to represent and express itself in the LGBT movement since its foundation."

"Homophobia is institutionalised in civil society and the public area by blending racism and nationalism in the countries of this region, including Turkey. Institutionalised homophobia integrates into historical animosities between the countries of our region and increases existing alienation between peoples. It is the LGBT organisations and the regional network between these organisations that will have to resist homophobic and sexist reflections of racist and nationalist policies in our region."

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US Court rejects asylum 'discretion' argument in Chilean case

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Source: Fahamu Refugee Legal Aid Newsletter

In an unpublished opinion, a US Court for the Ninth Circuit found that the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) was misplaced in relying on the repeal of the anti‐sodomy law in Chile. The status of the law is irrelevant to the petitioner’s fear of persecution, given that arresting officers only claimed the statute as a basis for the petitioner’s detention on one occasion and none of the incidents suffered were a result of violating the statute.

The fact that the petitioner had travelled to Chile did not negate his wellfounded fear (Boer‐Sedano v. Gonzales, 418 F.3d 1082, 1091 (9th Cir.2005), and the fact that he was not persecuted during this time was explained by the fact that he did nothing to expose his sexuality to his fellow citizens.

Similarly to the case of Karouni, 399 F.3d at 1173, the argument that a lack of persecution during a short trip to Chile undermines the petitioner’s well‐founded fear of future persecution, is tantamount to ‘saddling [the applicant] with the Hobson’s choice of returning to [Chile] and either:

1. facing persecution for engaging in future homosexual acts or;
2. living a life of celibacy’. 

The BIA’s suggestion that the petitioner could be safe in Chile if he behaved like he had during the short journey in essence meant that the INA [Immigration and Nationality Act] wanted the petitioner ‘to change a fundamental aspect of his human identity’.

Video: 20 years of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission

Reflections on the work of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2010 as it works to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. IGLHRCs work spans the globe with staff in the Americas, Asia and Africa working to bring human rights to everyone, everywhere.

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