Fun Fast Facts
- Civil unions legal since 2007.
- Court action responsible for most recent LGBT legislation.
- June 20, 2013 deadline set by the constitutional court for legislature to pass an equivalent of marriage (or else same-sex couples will be able to be married)
- One of 17 megadiverse countries.
- 1-3 years imprisonment for discrimination against LGBT community.
LGBT-friendly organisation: Colombia Diversa
- Founded in 2004 by a group of people, disappointed by the failure of various bills in Congress to recognise the rights of same-sex couples.
- Champions the disclosure, the defense and development of the rights of LGBT people.
- Working to positively transform cultural beliefs and practices regarding LGBT people.
- Promoting the capacity for political action of the LGBT community.
W3JOY interviewed: Felix, from Bogota
A lot of gay guys are in the closet. They feel trapped in their own bodies. Their souls say they want to come out and live happy as a gay, but at the same time society, their jobs, says “No, you cannot.” It will take a while for gay people to be brave and say “I’m gay.”
Some people are brave and they like to show they are gay, and some people are like me, they are more reserved, they don’t like to show it.
It’s quite hard sometimes because you have to play a certain role. You have to be a macho man, you have to have a lot of girlfriends to show “I’m the king, and all the girls are dying for you.”…Your parents, all your friends say “Oh, you are awesome, you are really cool.”
People say “I can have gay friends as long as they don’t touch me, they don’t talk to me.”
We are doing baby steps, but we are getting there. Nowadays, a lot of young people are more brave and they just think and do what they feel. And also they are teaching their parents that being gay is normal.
W3JOY interviewed: Nicky, Australian coach in Colombia
I had the sort of experience you wouldn’t expect…I had a really positive experience there in that a large number of women not only played the sport but were joining the sport, encouraged to play, and being joined and supported by the men…I think my experience as a little bit special, I found a niche market for equality.
My experience with women in sport in Colombia is that they are animals. They are fantastic athletes, they have no fear, and I find that society encourages them.
W3JOY interviewed: Goma, currently living in Cali, Colombia
I think for the girls, it’s easier than for the men.
If you kiss another girl, people look at you bad[ly]. It’s incomportable.
Cali, Colombia is a capital. In public places people look at you if you kiss other girls. We have machismo. The girls here have silicon boobs and big asses. It’s a different culture. Obviously gay girls do not have these. Only for that, you are rejected.
The gay march here in Cali is like 200 people…Many of my friends, their dads do not know that they are gay. They don’t go to the march because it’s so public. It’s a consequence of the culture.
One girl was in a train station. She was kissing a girl. An old man screamed “What are you doing?” and he punched her in the face.
Published on: Feb 26, 2013 @ 2:54
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:31 — 9.3MB)