An LGBT rights march in the Chilean capital on Saturday drew more than 50,000 people.

Chilean folk singer Camila Moreno; presidential candidates Andrés Velasco, Tomás Jocelyn-Holt, Marco Enríquez-Ominami and Marcel Claude and Rafael Dochao, the European Union’s ambassador to Chile, took part in the Santiago event that also commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia. Former President Michelle Bachelet, who is also a candidate to succeed President Sebastián Piñera in this November’s presidential elections, endorsed the march in a letter.

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The Chilean Government issued an apology to a lesbian judge who was denied custody of her three children because she is gay.

On Friday, during a ceremony led by Justice Minister Teodoro Ribera, Magistrate Karen Atala was told she would receive $70,000 (£43,300), and would have her medical and psychological treatment covered, reported CTV news.

In March, Ms Atala won her custody case against the Chilean courts, which had taken away her three daughters in 2004 believing her sexuality to put their development ‘at risk’.

The apology comes ten months after the Inter-American Court of Human Rights criticised the decision by Chile’s Supreme Court to uphold an order removing Ms Atala’s children from her and giving their father custody because of Ms Atala’s sexual orientation.

Chile’s Supreme Court had ruled that the girls were in a “position of risk” and could become “objects of social discrimination” and have hindered “psychic development” by living with the judge and her female partner.

Two of Ms Atala’s daughters are now adults, and the third is a teenager.

This apology comes after Chile’s president Sebastian Pinera signed anti-discrimination legislation into law, back in July. 

In the first ruling under the new law, last week a Chilean judge fined a motel for refusing entry to a same-sex couple, and ordered that it can’t refuse entry in future.

Jaime Parada has made history by becoming the first openly gay man elected to Chilean municipal government.

Parada was elected as councilman to Providencia, a commune in Chile’s capital city Santiago, with nearly 6% of total votes.

Parada told Gay Star News: ‘This election was symbolic. Chile’s focus was on Providencia, one of the country’s most conservative municipalities.’

The gay councilman is already active in the fight for LGBT rights as the spokesman for Chile’s Movilh (Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation), one of the nation’s leading sexual rights groups. 

Parada said: ‘My campaign used a sexual diversity discourse to challenge the mayor of Providencia Cristián Labbé, a recognized homophobe. This generated a lot of attention from voters.’

Cristián Labbé, a colonel who served under Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship, was not re-elected as Providencia’s mayor.

According to Parada: ‘Left-leaning and centrist forces came together to defeat the former dictator sympathizer who served as mayor for 16 years.’

‘My victory is interesting in the third-wealthiest municipality in Chile, because it symbolizes a change in areas that are typically reticent to change.’

In the same municipal elections, Chilean voters also elected two transgender council members to office.

Transgender councilmember Alejandra Gonzalez was re-elected for her third term in Lampa, also in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, and councilmember Zuliana Araya won her bid as councilmember for the coastal province of Valparaiso.

Araya dedicated her victory to homophobic government officials, specifically naming politician Ignacio Urrutia who pushed for the exclusion of homosexuals from serving in the armed forces.

Chile’s president Sebastian Pinera signed anti-discrimination legislation into law today. The move comes after the Neo-Nazi killing of a gay man, Daniel Zamudio, in March.

Mr Zamudio’s killing shocked Chile and sparked a national debate on hate crime. He suffered severe head injuries and his body was found in a city park with cigarette burns and swastikas carved in his skin.

The hate crime bill had languished in Congress for over seven years, but was finally fast-tracked to approval after the attack. It cleared its final hurdle with a 25-3 vote in the Senate.

Mr Zamudio died three weeks after the attack.

Chilean police arrested four men aged between 19 and 25 shortly afterwards.

Patricio Iván Ahumada Garay, Fabián Alexis Mora Mora, Alejandro Axel Angulo Tapia and Raúl Alfonso López now face charges of second-degree homicide.

T/W for violence

The law was stuck in Congress for seven years, but President Sebastian Pinera put it on the fast track after the death of Daniel Zamudio in March prompted people all across Chile to discuss hate crimes. He was found beaten and mutilated in a city park, with swastikas carved into his body. Lawmakers also are preparing to debate the president’s proposed civil union law granting inheritance and other rights to same-sex couples.

“It’s an enormous culture change for our country,” said Sen. Alberto Espina, with the center-right ruling coalition.

“Chile is a country that discriminates against Mapuche (Indians), homosexuals, that discriminates against people for their nationality and for having disabilities,” he added. “We have to assume this as a reality instead of hiding it under the rug.”

Four suspects, some with criminal records for attacks on gays, have been jailed in Zamudio’s killing. Prosecutors have asked for murder charges.

Many in Chile refer to the measure as the Zamudio law. Opposition Sen. Ximena Rincon said it honors his memory.

“This is the beginning of the end for those who discriminate against sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin and race,” Gay Liberation and Integration Movement President Rolando Jimenez said. “Today citizens have a judicial tool to defend themselves against discrimination. That is very good news. Starting today, Chile is a better place to live.”

Chile: Same-sex couples and the 2012 Census (by Blabbeando)

Nicely done PSA from Chile.

Q.

The government of Chile, for the first time in the nation’s history, will include questions about same-sex partnerships in the country’s census. MOVILH, the leading LGBT rights organization in Chile, has launched a campaign to dispel fears about the census and urge same-sex couples to answer truthfully about their relationship.

http://blabbeando.blogspot.ca/2012/04/count-us-in-latin-american-call-to.html#.T4LoxF0Uyuk

A week after the death of Daniel Zamudio, a Chilean gay man who had been the victim of a brutal and sustained attack, the country’s Congress has narrowly approved most of the provisions of a bill which would protect citizens against discrimination.

The Chamber of Deputies held a minute’s silence yesterday for Mr Zamudio before approving most of a bill making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender and disability.

The Chamber voted 58-56 in favour of the legislation, which was first laid before the country’s Congress seven years ago and approved by the Senate in November 2011.

A committee made up of members of the Senate and Chamber will finalise a text after some clauses that had been proposed by the Senate were rejected.

Last week, thousands attended the funeral of Mr Zamudio, who died from injuries sustained in an attack for which four men, who are believed to be members of a neo-Nazi group were arrested.

Daniel Zamudio, who was 24, died from his injuries last Tuesday, twenty five days after his attack on March 3.

He had suffered a six-hour ordeal at the hands of his captors, and pictures released by his family showed that he had been beaten in the head, burned with cigarettes, and scarred with Nazi symbols and slogans.

The men arrested deny both attacking Mr Zamudio and belonging to a neo-Nazi movement.

In the wake of a gay man’s torture and death at the hands of four neo-Nazis, Chile is under pressure to pass a hate crime legislation, as thousands attend his funeral in Santiago.  

AFP reports that people crowded the streets around the funeral cars that travelled for three hours between Daniel Zamudio’s house in south of the capital and the main cemetery, waving white handkerchiefs and throwing flowers.

Daniel, who was just 24, died from his injuries last Tuesday, twenty five days after his attack on March 3. He suffered a six-hour ordeal at the hands of his captors, and pictures released by his family showed that the openly gay youth had been beaten in the head, burned with cigarettes, and his body had carvings of Nazi symbols and slogans.

The four men who have been arrested, aged 19 to 25, deny the charges laid against them, and the accusation of being neo-Nazis. Speaking of the decision to charge the men with aggravated murder, regional governor Cecilia Perez said: “As a government, we did this in the name of millions of Chileans who, after the murder of Daniel Zamudio, feel that Chile has to change.”

Today, the UN stepped in to call for the passage of an anti-discimination law. Rupert Colville, speaking for the UN high commissioner for human rights, said: “We deplore the violent criminal act that took the life of this young man and urge the Chilean Congress to pass a law against discrimination, including on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, in full compliance with relevant international human rights standards.” He also added that the tragedy should be seen in the wider context of hate-crimes against all sexual minorities, emphasising the recent UN report which found “startling high levels” of homophobic violence around the world.

The killing has resulted in a national soul-searching in Chile. The president of the country, Sebastian Piñera, said earlier this week: “We want to reiterate today that we have made a commitment. We are not going to tolerate any kind of discrimination against Chilean citizens based on their socioeconomic status, their religion or sexual orientation.” Mr Piñera expressed his support for civil union between same-sex couples in a speech last year, though he opposes equal marriage in what is a deeply Catholic country.

Gay rights activists have been angered by the fact that a hate crimes bill, introduced seven years ago, had been effectively blocked by religious (and social) conservatives. “At every turn, this law has been cut. At every turn, there have been efforts to trim it. There was even resistance to having discrimination based on sexual orientation included in the [proposed bill]. This is something Chile can no longer permit. And now, after the death of Daniel, which has brought this moment of sensibility, it is time to pass [the legislation],” Caroline Taha, president of the liberal Party for Democracy, said.

Chile’s Senate had approved an anti-discrimination bill in November, which would outlaw discimination on the grounds of race, sexual orientation or religion, but right-wing representatives have sought to block it over concerns that it may lead to same-sex unions, which the proposed bill will also outlaw. Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter has added that efforts would be stepped up to pass the legislation as soon as possible.

T/W for violence

So very, very sad. And so pointless. RIP.

Q.

Daniel Zamudio, a gay 24-year-old Chilean man who was left brain-dead following an attack in Santiago by four alleged members of a neo-Nazi gang, died yesterday in hospital after three weeks in a medically-induced coma.

Zamudio was violently beaten in a park in the Chilean capital early in March. Four of his attackers
have been arrested and imprisoned.

According to photos released by his family, Zamudio was severely and violently hit in the head. His body had been burned with cigarettes and marked with swastikas.

The Chilean police have arrested four men aged between 19 and 25, who have been accused of attempted murder – a charge now likely to be raised to murder. The suspects deny the accusations, but all have previous convictions on charges of xenophobia.

The attack against Zamudio has caused outrage in Chile, and has been closely followed by the press and the population.

In response to the tragedy, singer and fellow South American Ricky Martin Tweeted: “No more hatred, no more discrimination. I hope that justice is done Now. Lots of light to Daniel and his whole family.”

Boy George also shared an article about Zamudio with his followers, stating: “This is awful!! Chile come on!! Prayers for Daniel!”

This is so sickeningly sad.

Q.

A gay man who was brutally attacked in a park in the Chilean capital earlier this month remains hospitalized in critical condition.

La Tercera and other Chilean newspapers and media outlets suggested over the weekend that Daniel Zamudio is potentially near death. Zamudio’s condition deteriorated after he suffered a heart attack on March 19.

Movilh spokesperson Oscar Rementería told reporters on Sunday that Zamudio’s family has decided to keep him on life support.

“Daniel Zamudio’s family decided not to disconnect him,” said Rementería, as La Tercera reported. “They are going to wait for his body to stop working on its own and this is going to happen within the next 48 hours and it will most likely going to be today.”

Emilio Villalón, director of Hospital de Urgencia Asistencia Pública, confirmed late on Sunday that Zamudio remains in critical condition.

“His condition is still critical and he has a somber prognosis,” said Villalón, as reported in El Mercurio.

Prosecutors maintain that Raúl Alfonso López Fuentes, 25, Alejandro Axel Angulo Tapia, 26, Patricio Iván Ahumada Garay, 25, and Fabián Alexis Mora Mora, 19, brutally attacked Zamudio, 24, in Parque San Borja in downtown Santiago on March 6. The suspects who reportedly called themselves neo-Nazis allegedly struck Zamudio with bottles, rocks and other blunt objects before they cut off part of his ear, carved swastikas into his chest and burned other parts of his body with cigarettes.

The attack sparked widespread outrage across Chile and throughout Latin America.

President Sebastián Piñera and Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter met with members of Zamudio’s family and Movilh a few days after the attack. Hinzpeter has also urged Chilean lawmakers to pass a law that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Movilh members and supporters on Sunday night held a candlelight vigil outside of the Santiago hospital where Zamudio remains in intensive care. Others have taken place in Concepción and other cities across the country in recent days.

Prosecutors will likely charge López, Angulo, Ahumada and Mora with murder if Zamudio succumbs to his injuries. The four men could face more than 40 years in prison if convicted.

“The doctors stressed that Daniel continues to fight,” said Rementería as La Tercera reported. “He doesn’t want to go, but they (his family) is waiting for his passing.”

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - The Interamerican Court of Human Rights has condemned the Chilean government for denying a judge custody of her three daughters because she is a lesbian.

The Feb. 24 decision was made public Wednesday by local media that cited the regional court’s official website.

The tribunal calls on Chile’s government to pay $50,000 to Magistrate Karen Atala and her three daughters, and another $12,000 for court costs.

Atala filed a complaint with the Interamerican Commission of Human Rights in Nov. 2004 after Chile’s Supreme Court decided to give custody of her daughters to her ex-husband because she is lesbian.

The Interamerican Court says the Chilean government violated Atala’s right to privacy.

Chilean authorities late on Friday arrested four young men in connection with the brutal attack of a gay man in downtown Santiago earlier this month.

Prosecutors maintain that Raúl Alfonso López Fuentes, 25, Alejandro Axel Angulo Tapia, 26, Patricio Iván Ahumada Garay, 25, and Fabián Alexis Mora Mora, 19, brutally attacked Daniel Zamudio, 24, in Parque San Borja on March 6. The suspects allegedly struck Zamudio with bottles, rocks and other blunt objects before they cut off part of his ear, carved swastikas into his chest and burned other parts of his body with cigarettes.

El Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh) and various Chilean newspapers have reported that López, Angulo, Ahumada and Mora called themselves “nazis del Centro” or “the Downtown Nazis.”

Movilh spokesperson Rolando Jiménez told El Mercurio after police arrested the four suspects that they confessed to the crime.

“We are happy,” said Jiménez. “When the authorities told me (about the arrests) I immediately called Daniel’s family.”

The attack that left Zamudio in a coma sparked widespread outrage across Chile.

President Sebastián Piñera and Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter, who has urged the country’s lawmakers to pass a law that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, met members of Zamudio’s family and Movilh at the presidential palace last Thursday. Ricky Martin and other celebrities have also spoken out against the attack.

The four suspects will remain in custody while the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, Movilh said on its Twitter page last Thursday that Zamudio has opened his eyes and has regained consciousness.

“The country is with you,” said the LGBT rights organization.

A 24-year-old gay Chilean man remains in a coma after what an LGBT rights organization described as a group of neo-Nazis brutally attacked him in a downtown Santiago neighborhood over the weekend.

El Mercurio reported that Daniel Zamudio, 24, was found in Parque San Borja early Saturday morning. El Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh), the country’s largest LGBT rights group, told La Tercera that Zamudio’s attackers struck him with blunt objects before they cut off part of his ear, carved swastikas into his abdomen and burned other parts of his body with cigarettes.

Zamudio’s mother told the newspaper that her son had gone to work at a store on Friday, but she did not know his whereabouts until he was found in a park the following day. She told La Tercera that neo-Nazi groups had previously threatened Zamudio inside a popular Santiago nightclub.

The attack has renewed calls for Chilean lawmakers to pass a law that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Ricky Martin and other celebrities have also spoken out against the attack.

“No more hate, no more discrimination,” tweeted Martin on Monday night. “I hope justice is finally served. Much light for Daniel and his entire family.”

Members of Zamudio’s family and Movilh are scheduled to publicly denounce the attack during a press conference in Santiago. They will also ask the public for information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of those who attacked Zamudio.

Written by Nathaniel Frandino    Monday, 27 June 2011 22:10

With drag queens stomping in their stilettos and adults, teens and children waving rainbow flags, more than 50,000 people paraded through Santiago on Saturday in support of gay rights in the annual March for Sexual Diversity.

Video:

Gay Marriage Marks The Annual March For Sexual Diversity from Nathan Frandino on Vimeo.

“I’m here to continue fighting for our rights so that people understand us and accept us,” Alejandro Soto, 26, said. 

The march celebrated gay pride and sought to galvanize support for Chile’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh), the rally’s organizer, was also demanding an anti-discrimination law to protect LGBT Chileans and recognition of civil unions for homosexual couples, a campaign promise of President Sebastián Piñera.

Together, the group marched from Plaza Italia to Paseo Bulnes, singing along to American pop star Lady Gaga, cheering on a group of drag queens dancing on top an 18-wheeler and shouting slogans in support of civil unions.

Andrea Orellana, 37, said despite Saturday’s strong turnout, Chile still has a long way to go. She said homosexuals are still seen as “sick people.”

“The situation here in Chile is that homosexuals still have very little acceptance by society because it’s a very conservative state with a very influential Catholic Church,” she said.

The fight for civil unions took a higher precedence than usual after Chile’s government took on the issue this fall. The Acuerdo de Vida en Común (AVC) project, which is still under debate, aims to establish civil unions for unmarried couples, regardless of sex, and grant them nearly all legal rights of married couples in terms of security, inheritance and health benefits.

The event also attracted families with some marchers even carrying their kids on their shoulders. Meanwhile, others marched hand-in-hand with their mothers.

Rodrigo Nanjari and his partner, Jaime Munoz, each brought his mother to the rally to support them and their demand to have equal rights.

“I think it’s important for the politicians to realize that we’re here, we’re part of the community and it’s important to know that we need rights,” 36-year-old Nanjari said.

The march came less than a day after New York state passed its own gay marriage law, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed late Friday night. That law will take effect on July 24, allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

Many participants in the march hoped New York’s passing would help encourage Chile to follow in its footsteps.

“I thought it was amazing because other cities are going to start following New York’s example and that’s what we need,” 19-year-old Dominique Beyer said.

Beyer, a Universidad Católica student who was carrying a sign with photos of men kissing men and women kissing women, said she and the thousands of others will continue to call attention to the issue until the government passes a law for civil unions.

The march also brought out its share of politicians. Senators Ximena Rincon and Isabel Allende and deputies Pepe Auth and Sergio Aguilo all attended. Famous Chilean writer Pablo Simonetti also attended to support the cause.

Movilh released a statement shortly after the event, praising all of those who attended.

“We are very happy for the beautiful and exciting day,” Movilh transsexual activist Paula Dinamarca said. “Each one of the hearts of those who attended will keep a memory of this that will be hard to forget.”

By Nathan Frandino ( editor@santiagotimes.cl ) 
Copyright 2011 – The Santiago Times