Caucus continues Latin America launch in Buenos Aires

To coincide with IDAHOBIT and the 10 year anniversary of Argentina’s gender identity law, on 16-17 May the Global Equality Caucus completed its launch in Latin America with an event in Buenos Aires.

Opened by María Cristina Perceval, the Argentine Secretary of Equality & Diversity Policies, and Tamara Adrián, Deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela and GEC Deputy Chair, the event was attended by legislators from across South America, as well as Argentine government officials and civil society representatives from the Federación Argentina LGBT and the Frente Nacional Orgullo y Lucha.

Hosted at the Casa Rosada, the Recoleta Cultural Center, and on the second day at the Argentine National Congress, the two-day launch focused on regional progress on LGBT+ rights, best practice, and the Argentinian experience in championing rights in Latin America, with a series of panel discussions, networking events and workshops.

In a session at the Casa Rosada attended by Alba Rueda, the Argentine Government’s Special Representative on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, delegates focused on LGBT-inclusive public policies where Secretary Perceval announced her commitment to explicitly ban conversion practices in Argentina.

At the Recoleta Cultural Center, delegates highlighted the importance of local government and elected city officials in driving progressive reform, with Buenos Aires serving as an example in the region as the host city for the Latin American Network of Rainbow Cities.

At the National Congress on 17 May, delegates gathered to focus on the upcoming legislative agenda and the importance of cross-party collaboration to drive progress on LGBT+ issues. These dialogues were led by GEC members and Argentine national deputies Maximiliano Ferraro, Mara Brawer and Mónica Macha, as well as Flavia Massenzio, President of the Federación Argentina LGBT.

Highlighted legislation included Argentina’s recently approved law on HIV and communicable diseases, which will introduce comprehensive, universal access to sexual health treatment and medical services.

And in a session led by Alberto de Belaúnde, representative of OutRight International and former Peruvian congressman & GEC founding member, parliamentarians discussed legislative options for banning ‘conversion therapy’. Congressman Mauricio Toro shared his experiences of introducing a proposed legislative ban in Colombia, and mobilised legislators to sign GEC’s global pledge against ‘conversion therapy’.

Concluding the launch, Esteban Paulón, President of the LGBT+ Public Policy Institute, announced the Interbloc for Equality, a space for inter-party coordination and dialogue within the Argentine Congress, which will include national councils and senators.

We are enthused by the successful launch of our Latin America chapter and the advocacy network we have built in partnership with lawmakers at every level of government. We thank everybody who planned, supported and attended both our Mexico City launch and our event in Buenos Aires.