Lanza's political activism began as part of the Honduran trade union movement.

[9] In 2010 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the Honduran government to guarantee the protection of Lanza, due to the continuing persecution.

"[12] In 2009, Lanza and the Visitación Padilla took on the case of Lesbia Pacheco, who was sacked from her role in government after rejecting the sexual harassment of a senior official, Juan Carlos Reyes.

[15] After her prosecution feminist groups from within Honduras called for a pardon, using the campaign slogan "We Are All Gladys".

[16] Lanza died in September 2016, after 10 days in hospital in Tegucigalpa; however, her health had badly deteriorated since her 2015 sentencing.