46 organizations have confirmed so far their summation to the seventh edition of the “Rainbow Campaign”, an initiative designed and promoted by the Movement of Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh) with the objective that public or private institutions deploy the flag of diversity , illuminate their frontis with the colors of that symbol and / or develop actions on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The organization Todo Mejora will participate on May 17 of an event at the House of Diversity of Antofagasta. next to the Municipal Mayor Karen Rojo Venegas.

The campaign will see the Presidential Palace illuminated in rainbow colors

66 public institutions will fly the rainbow flag and/or will be illuminated in rainbow colors for the  “Arcoíris” campaign

More information on Movilh‘s website.

As for the organisation MUMS Chile, it organises the first Conference on the Right to Difference under the motto “Diversity is our Strength”. This cultural project that unfolds in the Biobio region seeks to promote the right to be different and raise awareness of the violence that targets the LGBT communities in the country. Between May 13 and 17th, the organisation will hold several community events throughout the city. More info at  www.mums.cl and facebook.

More information on the Country page in Spanish

For Spanish-language information on IDAHOT events in Latin America and across the world please visit http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/es/

The boisterous crowds showed their support for equality in the socially conservative South American nation, which has been slower to adopt gay marriage laws than some of its neighbors.

March organizers estimated the size of the crowd at 50,000.

Couples, some wearing wedding dresses, kissed for the cameras as they marched in downtown Santiago, ahead of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on Sunday.

“It was a family-friendly, diverse and colorful event that marks one more step forward in Chile’s social movement,” a spokesperson for the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh) told AFP.

The spokesperson urged Chile’s government to do more to support transgender people, which he said face the greatest risk among Chile’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

“Today, it is important to make clear that the Chilean government urgently needs to recognize the rights of the trans community, which is the most vulnerable,” he said.

On Friday, the rainbow flag was raised at embassies, local government offices and at the headquarters of some political parties to mark Sunday’s day against homophobia and transphobia.

Chile’s Congress in January approved the country’s first law authorizing civil unions of gay and lesbian couples.

Gay marriage has been recognized in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil and Colombia and Ecuador recognize civil unions or partnerships of same-sex couples.

On May 16 the Day was commemorated for the tenth year with a parade that took place in the Plaza Italia in Santiago de Chile with more than 50,000 participants turning this into a historical milestone for LGBT activism. The various organizations marched with friends and families claiming for no more discrimination, no more discrimination for sexual diversity at schools and no more hate crimes. They also raise their voice for the government to pass a Gender Identity Act for trans people and celebrated the recently adopted Civil Union.

Also as part Movilh’s plans, a total of 35 municipalities and 10 embassies joined the campaign for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals. Municipalities and embassies raised the flag of the sexual diversity in May making activity in the greater visibility of the rights of LGBTI people in public bodies occurred so far in Chile.

The Chilean affiliate of It’s Get Better, Todo Mejora, release a music video produced with the Chilean artist Francisca Valenzuela called ‘Insult’. The song hopes to be an inspirational song about overcoming bullying for young LGBTI people. Working alongside GLSEN (an education network based in the United States), Todo Mejora also launch the Spanish version of the game Safe Space, a guide on how to be an ally to LGBT students.

The Municipality of Providencia also celebrated the Day, with an extensive program of multiple activities that began on May 11 with the opening of a zebra crossing and concluded on May 17 with the play “No one is a prophet in his mirror.” Below you can see pictures of the activities.

LGBT activism in Chile has increased substantially in recent years. The growth of LGBT organizations can be seen in the many events held for May 17, 2014 – with actions held across the country and tens of thousands of people participating in IDAHOT 2014 events in the capital, Santiago.

Chilean activists take to the streets of Santiago for IDAHOT 2014.

The organization Iguales Chile Santiago organized on May 17 together with the Municipality of Maipú an activity in the Plaza de Maipú in which they demonstrated with a 100 metre long rainbow flag, and held a series of “closet” discriminatory audio presentations, designed to sensitize people about what life in the closet is like for LGBT people.

On the other hand the MUMS (Movement for Sexual Diversity) organization, together with other groups, participated in a massive parade that was held in the city of Santiago de Chile and started from the Plaza Italia – with over 50,000 in attendance. It was conducted under the slogan “March Against Discrimination ” and participants were encouraged to use the hashtag #YOMARCHOEL17 to add their support online.

The organization MOVILH encouarged local authorities across the country to raise the LGBT rainbow flagm with more than 22 municipalities and five embassies participating – in a clear show of support from the communal governments, for inclusive and anti-discrimination policies in the country.

Local authorities fly the rainbow flag all over Chile for IDAHOT 2014.

The organiation It Gets Better (Todo Mejora) organised various activities for May 17 in the country including a media campaign to prevent homophobic bullying.

One of the many It Gets Better country affiliates – in Chile – takes action for the IDAHOT 2014.

The agenda of May also included the following activities:

• Art Auction to support programs for children and adolescents who suffer homophobic bullying and family rejection.
• The Interagency Gender Working Group of all UN agencies focused on suicide prevention and the homophobic bullying that affect children and adolescents presentation.
• Event with the High Commissioner of Human Rights, and the National Human Rights Institute focused on the effects of homophobia on children and adolescents, with the participation of more than 50 schools in different districts – principals, teachers and students.

From the government area, the Municipality Providencia held a working week of events that began on May 13 with an Opening Ceremony of the Week against Homophobia in presence of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Providence and ended on Friday May 23 with Forum called “Homoparenthood and AVP”.

Read the full report in Spanish

Dia International Contra la Homophobia y Chile 2010