Progress in Argentina

By Alejandra Sarda
A proposal advocating for the acknowledgement and guarantee of the right to be different was submitted by Colectivo Arco Iris (gay/lesbian group based in Rosario, Argentina's second city in size and population) to the local town council. The proposal is similar to the one adopted by Buenos Aires few months ago. It was supported by Amnesty International, ILGA and the local University.

The proposal was passed on December 20 and the text reads: "no discrimination involving exclusion in the name of or under the excuse of race, ethnical affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, ideology, nationality, physical appearance, psychological, social, economical condition or any other circumstance will be allowed ... The city promotes the removal of any and every type of obstacles that, actually restricting equality and freedom, impede a person's full development and her/his effective participation in the social, political or economical community life.

Rosario's activists celebrated the new clause, with the hope it will contribute to alliviate the hard realities currently faced by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people there. Firings due to sexual orientation (the organisation receives around 30 complaints per months), arbitrary arrest and youth suicide are the main problems affecting the Rosario GLTTB community, as denounced by Arco Iris.

Colectivo Arco Iris is the main GLTTB organisation outside Buenos Aires. It was founded in March 1994, by Pedro Paradiso and Guillermo Lovagnini, now joined by an enthusiastic and highly efficient group of young lesbians, gays and transgender people. Their current activities include: support groups (for people living with HIV/AIDS, for lesbians and for transgender people), massive distribution of leaflets educating about AIDS, work projects for people with AIDS, hot line for receiving discrimination complaints and an ongoing presence at the local media, community organisations and schools. Besides, Arco Iris was the host of the I National Gathering of GLTT and a key factor for its success.

If you want to congratulate Rosario activists for their victory, please write to:


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