The organization Tlgb Colectivo Department of La Paz will hold the event “La china morena memoria historica travesti” on May 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the city of La Paz. The exhibition is political reflection on emblematic transvestite characters in the popular festivals of Bolivia, which revolutionized an era from the transvestite aesthetic, this irreverence and social provocation occurs in the 60s and 70s, where homosexuals and transvestites express their different sexual orientation from popular culture, socially influencing the different parties such as the Carnival of Oruro, inscribed in the representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICP) of Humanity (2001 – 2008) and the Feast of the Lord Jesus of Great Power, in the city of La Paz, a cultural event that will be a candidate for the PCI of Humanity in 2018, where this political presence of vindication of the rights of a historically excluded population is included in the text of preparation for the candidacy.

From 15-17, the city of La Paz organises the international summit “Ahead with the conquest of LGBT rights”, with participation from Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru, with support from the EU and the Dutch Humanist aid organisation HIVOS

More information on the event’s Facebook Page

From the 17-21 May, the organisation Colectivo TLGB del Departamento de la Paz organises an LGBT fair in La Paz’ district of Sopocachi.

Organization  Diversencia and LGBT activists from Bolivia conducted a series of activities, including a press conference,the screening of the IDAHOT “Free and Equal” campaign video and public stalls

To get the full report please visit our Spanish Page.

In Bolivia, a diverse set of community groups, government representatives, artists, musicians and community allies, came together for events in Santa Cruz and La Paz. Highlights included the TransFest festival – to celebrate gender expressions and diversities, and highlight trans* community issues, in Santa Cruz. Government officials also met with activists to develop public policies, on the basis of affirmation of May 17 as an officially recognised National Day Against Homophobia in the country.

The organization Igualdad Bolivia together with the Governor of Santa Cruz and Regional Office of the Ministry of Culture joined forces for the organization of the fifth version of the transgender festival, TransFest Bolivia “TRANSFORMANDONOS”, 2014. Held in the city of Santa Cruz, the event included artistic and live Performances as well as a prize-giving event.

TransFest Bolivia, held around the IDAHOT 2014.

You can watch a full video of the event here:

Press Conference and Government Meeting

On Thursday, May 15, a press conference was held, to draw attention to actions around the Day. These included a meeting between TLGB communities and representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Culture and Education, to elaborate joint actions under the remit of the Presidential Decree (of 2011), which officially recognises May 17 as Bolivian Day Against Homophobia. This action was developed with the support of Colectivo TLGB of Bolivia.

Book Presentation, Vigil and Documentary Launch

On Friday, May 16, a presentation of the book “Freedom to love and feel: Memoirs of gay and lesbian couples in Bolivia” was held as well as a Vigil Against Violence, and the launch of a documentary about homophobia in Bolivia. These actions were also supported by Colectivo TLGB of Bolivia.

Street Parade

A final action coordinated by the Colectivo TLGB of Bolivia, was a street parade on Saturday, 17 May, in which communities and allies came together to promote and defend the rights of sexual and gender minorities.

Photography Exhibition

Finally, the organization ADESPROC FREEDOM GLBT, from La Paz, Bolivia presented a photographic exhibition of artist Andres Palacios called “Sexualidad Paceña”, in one of the most important museums of the city, Musef.

Photo: Posters from ADESPROC LIBERTAD GLBT

The organisation Colectivo TLGB Bolivia (the LGBT collective organisation of Bolivia), comprised of 60 organisations from the departments of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is planning several activities as part of the events for the week of May 17. The agenda is set from May 15 to 17 and will be finalised with a big march.

On Thursday, May 15: visiting media to draw attention to the issue and meeting with ministries of justice, culture and education, to coordinate joint actions according to Supreme Decree for the Day Against Homophobia in Bolivia which was issued by the government of Evo Morales.

On Friday, May 16: Presentation of the book “Libertades para amar y sentir. Memorias de parejas gay y les en Bolivia” (“Freedom to love and feel. Memoirs of gay and lesbian couples in Bolivia”); Vigil against violence towards LGBT people and presentation of documentaries about homophobia in Bolivia.

On Saturday May 17: March for the claim and defence of the Rights of people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.

For more information visit their Facebook page.

The organisation ADESPROC LIBERTAD GLBT from La Paz, Bolivia also find themselves in the midst of organising an exhibition and performance on May 17.

On May 17, in one of the most important museums in the city of La Paz, the Museo de Etnografía y Folklore (MUSEF), they will have a exhibition called SEXUALIDAD PACEÑA, which was created by the artist Andres Palacios and addresses different sexual expressions in their contexts, the full ranch of sexual and gender diversity. The event will be accompanied with a performance by Vitryaz, a group of gay talented youth performing in high heels without transforming their gender which has a a lot of media coverage in their city.

The organisation ADESPROC LIBERTAD GLBT, after more than 13 years of working in the LGBT community in Bolivia and in an effort to contribute to the formation of the LGBT movement on a local and national level, has developed a series of activities to highlight the reality of LGBT peole in the city La Paz and in the entire country.

For more information about ADESPROC LIBERTAD GLBT and their work, please visit their website.

Marcha contra la impunidad
La comunidad de transexuales, lesbianas, gais y bisexuales (TLGB) de Bolivia marcha por el centro de La Paz hoy, viernes 17 de mayo de 2013, para protestar por la impunidad en que están los crímenes que se produjeron en la ciudad de Santa Cruz (este) donde murió una transexual con 50 puñaladas y en la ciudad andina de El Alto, donde falleció una lesbiana a manos de un hombre que le asestó 13 puñaladas.

Registro en medios:

• El Nuevo Herald: Bolivia protesta contra la homofobia

March against impunity

Trans, lesbian, gay and bisexual communities (TLGB) of Bolivia, marched through the centre of La Paz, to mark May 17 2013. The protest was focussed on highlighting hate crimes, and the impunity with which they are treated in Bolivian society. Activists highlighted, in particular, hate crimes in the city of Santa Cruz, where a transsexual woman was killed with 50 stab wounds, and in the Andean city of El Alto, where a lesbian was killed with 13 stab wounds.

Media Reports:

• El Nuevo Herald: Bolivia protesta contra la homofobia

In the capital, La Paz, activists held a public conference and a candlelight vigil themed “A light for a Municipality: Without Homophobia, Lesbophobia and Transphobia “.