In the framework of the activities of the Day, the Departmental Assembly of Montevideo will hold a debate table “For a policy committed to trans lives #LeyTransYa. It will take place on May 16 at 7:00 p.m. in Casa Grande.

On the 16th, the Spanish Cultural Center in conjunction with the Diversity Office of Montevideo city will inaugurate the HUB ARTIVISMO exhibition of Venezuelan artist Daniel Arzola.

More info of this event here

More detailed information on the Country’s page in Spanish

The National Social Agency presented its strategic pathway policy towards comprehensive health care for trans people, entitled “Towards a comprehensive health policy in sexual diversity”.

The organization Colectivo Ovejas Negras, together with local psychology students, performed an urban intervention showing the impact of stigma on self-esteem of people. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity still remains one of the serious problems to deal with in Uruguay.

To check the full report please visit our Spanish Page.

The organization Ovejas Negras (Black Sheep) led actions for IDAHOT this year, once again, by calling for recognition of May 17 as an international day of struggle against homo-transphobic discrimination. The grass roots group called on people not to support legislators who were against, or who did not support, progressive sexual rights laws: specifically, on same sex marriage and the decriminalization of abortion.

Federico Grana, a member of the group, urged people to be informed and to not support “those legislators who left us unable or ill” and “who clung to technicalities to deny us our rights”.

Ovejas Negras – a grass roots group leading calls for greater equality for LGBT people in the country.

Grana said the decision to develop a list of those politicians who “did not accompany us with their votes in the fierce battle for the conquest of legal equality” was important because voters needed to be aware of “who these people are”.

Grana added that Ovejas Negras is planning to in generate a questionnaire which would survey public opinion about presidential candidates, and on how the group should respond to any future administration.

“As part of such an important day for us, it is vital that we do not lose this hard fight. We’re not going back,” said a group member on the Facebook page of the group.

Report also available in Spanish.

Video reflecting on homophobia in education released

The Ovejas Negras (Black Sheep) collective presented an audiovisual collection of testimonies of students and teachers about their experiences of homo/lesbo/transphobia, within the Uruguayan educational system.

This is a landmark move towards full recognition of marriage equality in Uruguay. A country which, just a few months ago, also gained widespread international acclaim for the government’s pioneering decision to decriminalise abortion.

Activists from the Uruguayan LGBT group, Colectivo Ovejas Negras, explained “The bill had been passed by the Chamber of Deputies in December, but the Senate has modified it. According to our Constitution, those modifications will have to be confirmed by the Deputies for the bill to be finally approved. The modifications are minor and do not affect the bill’s essence. In fact, it improves it, bringing the marrying age for women and men to 16 (before, those ages were ridiculously low, at 12 for girls and 14 for boys)… After this Tuesday’s vote by the Senate, the lower chamber will probably vote and pass it in one or two weeks (all in April). Once passed, the government has up to 90 days to regulate it, i.e., to make the necessary changes in red tape to implement it. Hopefully, the first couples will be getting married in July/August.”

LGBT communities and activists throughout Latin America have celebrated the decision, with many taking to social media to show their support.

Uruguay is the latest in a progressive Latin American-wide trend to legalise same sex marriage, following similar laws in Argentina and Mexico City and very favourable judicial decisions in Brazil and other countries.

Activists from the Coletivo added “The Catholic church is making a final attack on the bill, with the usual statements from the bishops. We are not at all worried. These are just angry rantings at the unavoidable. They know they’ve already lost.”

People were asked to gather in parks, on streets, at famous corners and in shopping centers to demonstrate that no love is different and that everyone has the same rights. Safety instructions and legal advice were also disseminated to participants.

A collective of DJs also joined forces to conduct various events under the slogan “Have fun”. The aim was to celebrate all together in the name of tolerance and respect, with the expectation that the event would grow in scale and gain recognition throughout Uruguay. The event featured flags, posters and banners, and people were invited to submit suggestions.