LGBTQ people in Chile
[1] The same year, the Armed Forces of Chile abolished all internal rules that prevented homosexuals from entering the Army, adapting the practices and regulations of the institution to the anti-discrimination law.
The homosexual protests, marches and the movement in general in Chile emerged publicly under the socialist government of Salvador Allende, months before the 1973 Chilean coup d'état.
[6] On April 22, 1973, in the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, about 30 homosexuals and transvestites were part of the first public demonstration for gay rights in the history of Chile.
In 2016, a total of 110 public and private institutions raised the rainbow flag, including 49 municipalities, 8 embassies, 42 government agencies, 3 libraries, 3 universities, 4 political parties and a shopping center.
In 1984, during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, Ramirez faced a complex episode, which threatened to expose his homosexuality, after which for his own safety he opted for the retirement from public political life.
Ricardo Cantín in Coyhaique,[22] Hernando Durán Palma in Talca,[23] Esteban Barriga in Temuco,[24] Juliana Bustos Zapata in Collipulli[25] and Almendra Silva Millalonco in the commune of Cisnes.
Although much of Chilean conservative society continues to regard homosexuality with a degree of contempt, the gay community has not faced the worst conditions of a continent plagued by machismo.
Transgender women are mostly discriminated, unable to enter the labor market so their only way of survival is prostitution, therefore they are exposed to violence and police harassment.
[32] Nevertheless, LGBTQ rights groups Movilh and Fundación Iguales criticized the methodology of the survey, indicating that they deviate from international estimates and questioning that the percentage of transgender people is higher than gays and lesbians.
According to a 1997 study by Fundación Ideas and the University of Chile, 70.6% of Chileans agreed that "doctors should investigate the causes of homosexuality, in order to prevent their continuing birth."
A clear indication of declining prejudice could be seen in the fact that 85% of respondents said that pedophilia is unrelated to sexual minorities, since that crime "may be committed equally by homosexual and heterosexual people.
Thirty two of these cases were homicides, while others include physical attacks, discrimination in the workplace and in the school system, harassment, police abuses, and statements that violate the dignity of LGBT people.
[44] In March 2012, a young gay man named Daniel Zamudio was brutally beaten and tortured for several hours by four attackers, allegedly linked to a neo-Nazi band.
[49] In the early part of the twenty-first century, greater publicity has been generated about LGBT people in Chile and the discrimination and harassment that they face, specifically involving the Chilean state.
Judge Calvo, investigating the case of an accused businessman running a child pornography ring, was taped in his office in a discussion with the owner of a gay sauna, in which he acknowledged being a former client.
[54] In 2010, the Chilean government launched a public service announcement which referred to spousal or domestic abusers as maricón, which sparked outrage from LGBT rights advocates at home and abroad.
[58] Subsequently, the novel Pasión y muerte del Cura Deusto, published in 1924 by D'Halmar, winner of the first Chilean National Prize for Literature in 1942, tells the tragic love of a priest for another man.
Lafourcade devoted important roles to homosexuality in his early works as Pena de muerte (1952) and Para subir al cielo (1959).
The relative openness of the topic in aristocratic, intellectual and artistic circles, influenced by events in Europe, allowed the publication of some foreign literary works that also portrayed homosexuality.
[73] Also in 2010, Chilean singer and musical producer Koko Stambuk released the song entitled "Chicos y chicas" from his album Valiente, which tells how more and more gay people dare to live their truth.
[75] The musician Álex Anwandter, who has not openly defined his sexuality, is considered an icon and activist for LGBTQ rights because of his continued support that is reflected in their songs, videos, performances and lately also in filmmaking.
[76] Other Chilean artists who constantly and openly support the LGBTQ community are Gepe, Lulú Jam, Maria Colores, Camila Moreno, Dënver, Mon Laferte and Denise Rosenthal.
[77] Different Chilean telenovelas have made visible the relationships of gays and lesbians during the last decade; these are: Puertas adentro (2003), Ídolos (2004), Cómplices (2006), El Señor de la Querencia (2008), ¿Dónde está Elisa?
[82] In 2013, TV network Mega premieres Ojo con clase, the Chilean version of the American reality serie Queer Eye.
"Happy Together" is a TVN network docureality and is the story of two men in love who want to start a family, Julio Cezar Dantas and Juan Pablo Fuentealba.
[86] Among the films that deal in a broad sense LGBTQ issues include: Muñeca (2008), Lokas (2009), Des/Esperando (2010), Drama (2010), Otra película de amor (2010), Mapa para conversar (2011), Mi último round (2012), Joven y alocada (2012), En la gama de los grises (2015), Nasty Baby (2015), Nunca vas a estar solo (2016), and Oscar-winning film A Fantastic Woman (2017).
The LGBTQ-related short films include: El Regalo (2002), Blokes (2010), La Santa (2012), Iglú (2013), Solsticio de primavera para un primer amor (2013), Plutón (2014), San Cristóbal (2015), Aguas abajo (2015), and Locas Perdidas (2015).
Although Chile does not have a gay tourist destination recognized internationally, in Santiago, its capital city, has been developed gradually and to a lesser extent compared to the other capitals of the Southern Cone, an LGBTQ culture urban due to greater social acceptance of homosexuality, which is reflected by the appearance of a specifically gay-oriented tourism offer, such as gay bars, clubs, hotels, cafes, restaurants and saunas.
LGBTQ people who choose Chile as a tourist destination are consolidated couples with high purchasing power who like design hotels, trendy things and luxury.
The initiative also emerges with the objective of promoting and monitoring policies and regulations in labor and trade matters that favor the interests of the LGBTQ community, and contribute to the economic, social and sustainable development of the country.
