Nicaragua, Central America

                Introduccion: Nicaragua es un país escénico de lagos y montañas con una variedad de grupos sociales y étnicos, incluyendo una población considerable  LGBT (Lesbianas, gayes, bisexuales  y transgénero). Desgraciadamente muchos no han salido del closet ya que el machismo o la cultura católica tiene una mayor influencia en los estilos de vida sexual.  Pero sorprendentemente hay varias organizaciones de derechos humanos audaces y enérgicas que no tienen temor, especialmente desde que la homosexualidad fue despenalizada en el 2008 y una defensora del pueblo LGBT (lesbianas, gayes, bisexuales y transgénico) especial fue nombrada por el gobierno. (English version) Vea además Noticias Nicaragua gay y los informes Por Richard Ammon 
GlobalGayz.com Nicaragua está lleno de aventuras cuando se llega en bus al norte de Costa Rica a lo largo de la carretera Pan-Americana. A tan solo pocas millas dentro del territorio la vista más espectacular alcanza por todo el lago de

Central American LGBT (gay) organizations distribute an impressive amount of information ads, brochures and booklets about HIV care and prevention, homophobia, coming out, condom promotion and gay/human rights. Pictured here are a few of these advisories.

Ometepe is the name of two small connected islands in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America. These islands were formed by the peaks of two volcanoes and connected by a short isthmus. This area is part of the Greater Nicoya subregion, one of the richest archaeological zones in Central America. Oval in shape, with an area of 3,149 square miles (8,157 square km), the lake is 110 miles (177 km) in length and has an average width of 36 miles (58 km). It is about 60 feet (18 metres) deep in the centre, and its waters reach a depth of 200 feet (60 metres) to the southeast of its largest island.

Granada is a department in western Nicaragua and also the department’s seat. With an estimated population of 110,326 (2003), it is Nicaragua’s fourth most populous city and capital of the Granada Department. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua’s most important cities both economically and politically. It is situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Nicaragua. It was founded by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba on December 8, 1524. It has a rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and layout.

Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality  by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in 1852. Prior to its inception as the capital city, the title had alternated between the cities of León and Granada. The city has a population of roughly 1,800,000, composed predominantly of mestizos and whites. Managua is the second most populous city in Central America after Guatemala City. In Managua there are four leading LGBT (gay) groups. Together they make up central alliance is the Strategic Group for Sexual Diversity Rights (GEDDS): -Sexual Diversity Initiative for Human Rights (IDSDH); -Grupo Safo (Lesbian group); -Centre for International Studies (CEI); -Nicaraguan Association of Transsexuals (ANIT) Read the story .

Intro: Nicaragua is a scenic mountain-and-lake country with a variety of social and ethnic groups, including a sizeable LGBT population. Unfortunately most live behind closet doors as the dominant macho/catholic culture has a major influence on sexual lifestyles. But surprisingly, there are several bold and vigorous human rights organizations that are unafraid, especially since homosexuality was decriminalized in 2008 and a special LGBT ombudswoman was appointed by the government. (Spanish version)   Also see Gay Nicaragua News & Reports Also see Nicaragua Photo Galleries By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com Nicaragua is adventurous when arriving north by bus from Costa Rica along the Pan-American Highway. Only a few miles into the country the most spectacular vista opens up across Lake Nicaragua. It’s an enormous body of inland fresh water; with an area of 8,264 km2 (3,191 sq mi) it’s the largest lake in Central America. (Twice the size of the state of

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.com Managua, Nicaragua February 1, 2010 As expected, the hub of LGBT activity is found in big cities so it was no surprise to find it in Managua the capital of Nicaragua. What was a surprise was finding so many LGBT organizations and finding them collected in one place. Thanks to Marvin Mayorga of IDSDH (Sexual Diversity Initiative for Human Rights), the leading activist group in Nicaragua, my work was made much easier as he introduced me to all four LGBT associations at once; a fifth group was located in another part of the city. There is a rights group; a trans group; a lesbian group; and two HIV health outreach groups. Together they make up a central alliance called the Strategic Group for Sexual Diversity Rights (GEDDS) The numbers are less important than the work they do to raise consciousness; they do it quietly behind closed doors

A brief guest commentary by an academic observer reports on the homosexual patterns in this small country long wracked with civil war and politcal corruption. Add these problems to the common ‘gay’ troubles from a strong machismo culture and fervent Catholic bias and life does not appear too rosy for lesbigays here. Also see: Gay Nicaragua News & Reports 2006 to present Gay Nicaragua By Gert Hekma Gay and Lesbian Studies Amsterdam (e-mail hekma@pscw.uva.nl) http://www.pscw.uva.nl/gl/intro.html Introduction Latin-America has a strong machismo-tradition with a division of active and passive roles: the maricones (queers) taking the passive/feminine roles and the macho’s the active/male roles. This dichotomy is an ideal type, as it seems to be common for a subcategory of macho’s to desire to be penetrated. At the same time, Latin-America is since long strongly influenced by western models of homosexuality, so in most bigger cities exists also a gay culture of