1 Festival of Sexual Diversity and Human Rights 6/06
2 "Nadie es Libre hasta que tods seamos Libres" 9/06
3 Tutu tells Church to stop obsessing about gays 5/07
4 Gay rights activists stage rally in front of Nicaraguan embassy 9/07
5 Global protests against Nicaragua's gay ban 9/07
6 Nicaragua to decriminalise gay sex 11/07
7 Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report 8/08
8 Demand an Investigation into Attack on "Our Gay Beauty" Event 10/08
9 More on Bushwick bias crime against Ecuadorean brothers 12/08
10 75 LGBT activists from the Central American region meet in Managua 12/08
11 Gay US citizen murdered, authorities suspect 'crime of passion' 12/08
12 MEPs demand end to foreign aid to Nigeria over gay marriage ban 1/09
1
Festival of Sexual Diversity and Human Rights in Nicaragua from June 22--28, 2006
by Anibal Jose Martinez
The reason of this letter is to present to you the project Nicaraguan Cultural Festival for Sexual Diversity and Human Rights which will take place within the context of the International Gay, Lesbian and Transsexual Pride Celebrations, on June 22--28 2006 in León, Ocotal, Masaya and Managua.
The main purpose of this project is to portrait from various artistic expressions a new, more natural image and without prejudices of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and transsexuals. This activity will take place for the third time, people with different sexual leanings will participate and will presents a broad range of artistic expressions, we think this should be supported and encouraged.
This year we will have also the second March for Sexual Diversity where the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual community can express themselves. For this third festival we are inviting groups and organizations from those four communities, asking them for their participation.
The program should be as follows:
-Western Region ( Corinto, Chinandega, León, Nagarote y La Paz _Centro) , June 22, will start the Festival.
-Northern Region ( Matagalpa, Estelí, Nueva Segovia, Ocotal) June 24.
-Pacific Region ( Managua, Ciudad Sandino, Mateare, Tipitapa) June 26.
-Eastern Region ( Masaya, Granada, Rivas, Nandaime) June 28.
-The second march for Sexual Diversity and Human Rights will be on June 28 in Masaya.
Also during that week we will call for the participation of painters, poets and musicians to participate. We hope for a broad participation of the public in general and their support for the different artistic expressions.
In the past two years we have had the support from the City linking Foundation Utrecht-Leon, the Dutch organization"El Otro Lado". In the past two years the coverage in the Nicaragua media has been important and respectful toward the Sexual Diversity and Human Rights events.
During the first March for Sexual Diversity (2005) there was presence of social organizations, non governmental organizations, men and women, young and old, thanks to the support of the Dutch Embassy and the Humanist Institute HIVOS.
We thank you again for the previous support and hope that we will again have it this year. We thank you in the name of the people of Nicaragua and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual people for your support for the activities of the Festival. We are in need of help.
More Information from Anibal Jose Martinez: (anibal_josemartinez@hotmail.com)
With special Thanks,
Anibal Jose Martinez and Norman Gutiérrez M.
Coordinador de la Director Ejecutivo Comisión Festival Cultural CEPRESI, Nicaragüense
The Festival Commission is composed by members of The Centre for Human Development (CHD) and the Centre for Education and prevention of Aids( CEPRESI) of Nicaragua.
September 6, 2006
2
"Nadie es Libre hasta que tods seamos Libres" (Nobody is Free until we are all Free)
• Congreso de Organizaciones Gay (Conga) de Centroamérica, reunido en Managua sesiono en Nicaragua.?
• El “Conga” vincula las reacciones homofóbicas con la criminalidad en ascenso contra su comunidad en el Istmo
Atentado a derechos humanos
Como un atentado al derecho humano de expresarse libremente, fue calificado por representantes de la comunidad gay centroamericana, la oposición del alcalde de Catarina a la realización del Certamen Miss Gay programado para efectuarse en esa ciudad. La oposición del alcalde de Catarina, dijeron, es una expresión mínima de la homofobia institucionalizada, que fue uno de los temas abordados durante el primer Congreso de las Organizaciones Gays de Centroamérica (Conga).
Los asistentes a esta actividad manifestaron que la ausencia de políticas públicas destinadas a su grupo poblacional, los crímenes de odio que raras veces son investigados, la falta de apoyo de parte del Estado laico, así como las amenazas a los dirigentes de estas organizaciones, son otras aristas de dicha homofobia. De acuerdo con el licenciado Norman Gutiérrez Morgan, del Centro para la Educación y Prevención del Sida (Cepresi), uno de los organizadores del primer congreso, los estados deben respetar a sus ciudadanos y sus opciones, porque ante todo son personas que merecen atención humanizada y de calidad en todos los aspectos que promuevan su pleno desarrollo.
“Aún no hemos tomado acciones directas con el alcalde de Catarina, pero lo emplazaremos, porque no puede limitar el ejercicio de los derechos humanos de ninguna persona en el municipio, y en su debido momento la asesora legal de nuestra organización se personará para tomar cartas en el asunto”, señalo el licenciado Gutiérrez Morgan
Crímenes en ascenso
Los representantes de El Salvador y Honduras presentes en el Conga solicitaron que se enfatice en la investigación y justicia para aquellos crímenes de odio los cuales están en ascenso. A diferencia de otros asesinatos, los que nosotros calificamos como crímenes de odio contra miembros de nuestra comunidad se destacan por la saña con la cual se dan y por la negligencia y falta de interés para ser investigados, afirma William Hernández, de la asociación “Entre amigos”.
“Hemos registrado más de cuarenta asesinatos por odio, y de ellos sólo uno ha sido investigado porque se trataba de un ciudadano norteamericano, mientras los que se cometen contra gays de El Salvador no se investigan pese a la saña con la que se dan, pues son desmembrados, asesinados a golpes, abandonados en sitios remotos y encontrados casi putrefactos, con sus genitales mutilados”, expreso Hernández
De luto
Javier Medina, de la organización “Kukulcan” de Honduras expreso que la comunidad gay de ese país se encuentra de luto, pues hace dos semanas uno de los principales dirigentes de la comunidad de San Pedro fue brutalmente asesinado. “Todos estos crímenes de odio son producto de la religión, donde se aboga por el amor al prójimo incitando el odio. Hago un llamado a la reflexión no sólo a las personas religiosas, sino a los representantes del gobierno para que respeten los estados laicos y permitan el desarrollo pleno de los ciudadanos, pues siempre están llamando al odio a través de marchas y mensajes, así como de actos legales en nuestra contra”, afirmo Medina.
Para concluir, Medina señaló que las autoridades evitan actuar en ocasiones para evitar “encontronazos” con algunos grupos religiosos, y destacó que por omisión también se peca, pues ante enfermedades como el VIH- Sida, la comunidad gay es vulnerable porque los gobiernos no adoptan políticas específicas que influyan y permitan dar a conocer información al respecto
DECLARACIÓN MANAGUA
Durante el evento, los representantes de la comunidad gay de Centroamérica --que a la vez son delegados de las distintas redes que se han formado en cada uno de los países--, firmaron la Declaración Managua, en la cual exigen, entre otras cosas:
• La urgente formulación de legislaciones que garanticen la no discriminación por orientación sexual e identidad de género.
• La urgente adopción dentro de las procuradurías de Derechos Humanos y Defensorías de las personas que integran la comunidad gay.
• A las instituciones religiosas y organizaciones no confesionales para que ayuden a sus miembros a superar los prejuicios tradicionales y a luchar contra la discriminación por orientación sexual.
• La derogación de legislaciones que penalicen el goce de la ciudadanía plena de las poblaciones no heterosexuales.
• El urgente desarrollo de políticas y programas de gobierno que garanticen la educación, prevención, atención en VIH/Sida a este grupo poblacional.
•Mantener una Comunicación constante y permanente a nivel Regional é Internacional cuando s e violen los derechos Humanos de nuestra comunidades.
Para Mayor Información con el email cepresi@ibw.com.ni
área de comunicación y prensa
LLama Gratis a cualquier PC del Mundo.
Llamadas a fijos y móviles desde 1 céntimo por minuto
pinknews.co.uk
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-4507.html
29 May 2007
3
Tutu tells Church to stop obsessing about gays
by Amy Bourke
Desmond Tutu has called for the Anglican Church in Africa to stop "obsessing" with gay priests and same-sex marriages. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Archbishop of Cape Town said that church leaders in Africa were not paying enough attention to problems in Zimbabwe, HIV/AIDs, or the crisis in Darfur. He told ABC News: "There are so many issues crying out for concern and application by the church of its resources, and here we are, I mean, with this kind of extraordinary obsession. Certainly there's not been anything like the same standing up to the evil and exercising the prophetic ministry that one would have expected from the church - and that has been very ... distressing."
Anglican communities across the world have been divided by the issue over sexuality. The Anglican church in South Africa is the only one on the continent that has a liberal attitude towards women priests. Most African churches are implacably opposed to gay or lesbian clergy and regard homosexuality as biblically forbidden. Earlier this year, PinkNews.co.uk reported how the legendary anti-apartheid campaigner told a conference in Nairobi that gay hate was the same as racism.
Dr Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, told journalists: "For one to penalise someone for their sexual orientation is the same as penalising someone for something they can do nothing about, like ethnicity or race. "I cannot imagine persecuting a minority group which is already being persecuted."
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has ruled out a discussion on sexuality at the next Lambeth Conference in 2008, but stressed that Anglican bishops should focus on "the listening process."
Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/09/14/2003378661/print
September 14, 2007
4
Gay rights activists stage rally in front of Nicaraguan embassy
Sodomy Law: Activists said that discriminatory clauses against same-sex partners have continued because of pressure from the Catholic Church
by Loa Iok-sin, Staff Reporter
Gay rights activists staged a demonstration outside the Nicaraguan embassy in Taipei yesterday as part of an international campaign against the country's sodomy law. "Love is not a crime!" activists from six non-governmental organizations shouted in Mandarin, English and Spanish outside the embassy. The international campaign was initiated by Amnesty International Mexico and also took place in 10 other countries.
"Nicaragua is the only Latin American country with a law that prohibits sex between people of the same sex," said Emily Wu (???), an Amnesty International Taiwan member. "That is not only a violation of the Nicaraguan Constitution, but also of international human rights."
Article 204 of Nicaragua's criminal code stipulates that "anyone who induces, promotes, propagandizes or practices sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex commits the crime of sodomy and shall incur one to three years' imprisonment." The article was enacted in 1992 and remains effective today, surviving changes to laws initiated by left-wing President Daniel Ortega after his election last year. "Many discriminatory clauses in Nicaraguan laws have been changed since the change of power last year, but this particular article remains in effect because of pressure from the Catholic Church," said Wu Chia-chen (???), a spokeswoman for the demonstration.
Although the action may not generate an immediate response, "we hope to at least give support to the Nicaraguan government to continue legal reform," Wu Chia-chen said. Unable to talk to anyone from the embassy, the demonstrators left a petition in the embassy's mailbox. An embassy spokeswoman told the Taipei Times by telephone that the embassy was not authorized to respond, but would forward the petition to the Nicaraguan government.
pinknews.co.uk
http://pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5478.html
18th September 2007
5
Global protests against Nicaragua's gay ban
by PinkNews.co.uk writer
Amnesty International, through its network of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender) groups, held a series of demonstrations across the world last week. The protestors called for the calling for the decriminalisation of sodomy in Nicaragua and called for the repeal of article 204 of the country's Penal Code. This article criminalises not only gay men, lesbians and bisexual people in same-sex relationships, but is vague enough to permit the prosecution of individuals for activities such as campaigning for LGBT rights or anyone providing sexual health information or services.
Amnesty International considers the use of sodomy laws to imprison individuals for same-sex relations in private to be a grave violation of human rights. The vast majority of countries throughout the Americas have abolished their sodomy laws while Nicaragua introduced article 204 in September 1992. "Anyone who induces, promotes, propagandises or practices in scandalous form sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex commits the crime of sodomy and shall incur 1 to 3 years’ imprisonment," it reads.
Last week protests were held outside Nicaraguan embassies and consulates in Germany, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Mexico, Paraguay, Sweden and Taiwan. "Article 204 contradicts numerous provisions in international human rights law," said Amnesty in a press release. "The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Nicaragua acceded without reservations in 1980, protects the rights to freedom of expression (article 19), freedom from arbitrary interference with the right to privacy (article 17) and freedom of conscience (article 18). It affirms the equality of all people before the law and the right to freedom from discrimination (articles 2 and 26). Nicaragua's “sodomy” law clearly violates all these articles as well as the provisions of other human rights instruments that Nicaragua has ratified, such as the American Convention on Human Rights."
Since the landmark 1994 case of Toonen v. Australia, the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which monitors states' compliance with the ICCPR, has constantly urged states not only to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality, but also to enshrine the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation into their constitutions or other fundamental laws.
pinknews.co.uk
http://pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6081.html
16th November 2007
6
Nicaragua to decriminalise gay sex
by Joe Roberts
Consensual gay sex will no longer be a criminal offence in Nicaragua under a new civil code due to come into effect on March 2008. The surprise news was announced earlier this week by the Nicaraguan National Assembly, reports La Prensa. Under old legislation passed in 1992, "anyone who induces, promotes, propagandises or practices sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex commits the crime of sodomy and shall incur one to three years' imprisonment." This article criminalises not only gay men, lesbians and bisexual people in same-sex relationships, but is vague enough to permit the prosecution of individuals for activities such as campaigning for LGBT rights or anyone providing sexual health information or services.
Nicaragua's new code removes all reference to this, reflecting changing social mores in a country which Amnesty International targeted this year for contradicting numerous provisions in international human rights law. The vast majority of countries throughout the Americas have abolished their sodomy laws.
José Pallais, president of the Nicaraguan Parliament's Commission of Justice and Legal Issues, said the changes marked a modernisation, placing legal rights over the state's moral code. He added: "We are not creating a code of the Catholic Church here, we are creating a democratic code under modern principles and principles of legality."
Abortion will remain illegal, however, after insufficient legislative support to change the law.
Kaiser Network
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=54091
August 22, 2008
7
Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report
Global Challenges | Researchers Examine How Perceptions of Masculinity Influence HIV Prevention in Central America
A team of researchers is examining how different perceptions of masculinity can influence HIV prevention messages in Central America, the Columbia State reports. The team, which is supported by USAID and Population Services International, has held focus groups with 1,200 men from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama to learn about different perceptions of masculinity and how the men see themselves. The men completed 11-point surveys on issues such as what motivates them, what is important in life and what word best describes them. Using the surveys, the researchers developed six primary categories to which HIV/AIDS prevention messages can be customized, according to the State. "It's another approach for behavioral change messages," Susana Lungo, program director for the initiative, said.
The six primary categories are powerful, men to whom researchers should stress that they have the power to choose condom use; energetic, who can be reached by emphasizing that they can make a contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS; protector, who should be given messages about fidelity and condom use for the sake of protecting their families; relaxed, who tend to be receptive to condom use because of generally open attitudes; searchers, to whom condom use has to be presented in interesting and engaging ways; and passionate, men who are receptive to fidelity and condom use messages out of respect for their partners.
According to the researchers, although the categories were developed to promote HIV prevention, they also can be used for teenage pregnancy prevention and other health issues (Reid, Columbia State, 8/21).
From: "Paula Ettelbrick" <executive_director@iglhrc.org>
October 31, 2008
8
Demand an Investigation into Attack on "Our Gay Beauty" Event
On October 18, 2008, two organizations-Amigos contra el Sida and Asociación Gay de Samayac-organized an event called "Our Gay Beauty" in Samayac Suchitepéquez, a town located 158 km. from Guatemala City. The focus of the event was HIV prevention in the context of the campaign by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Before the event, organizers asked the mayor if they could use the municipal hall for their purposes. Although the mayor originally agreed to the groups' request, he later reneged on his commitment after being pressured by local churches. The event ultimately took place in a rental space.
Although the police provided some protection at the start of the event, their presence was transient. After they abandoned the event, someone threw a tear gas bomb into the room where the event was being held. While no one was seriously injured, people fainted, children became excessively tearful, and everyone was affected by the fumes. This is not the first time an attack of this type has occurred. A similar attack took place last year at an LGBTI festival in La Blanca, Ocos San Marcos, a small town, 300 km. from Guatemala City. LGTBI activists have subsequently been unable to meet in that town. Given that more than 30 activists live in this community, the inability to meet is quite significant.
In line with this apparent policy of persecuting sexual rights activists, just one month ago police in Flores Costa Cuca Quetzaltenango City arrested representatives of Amigos contra el Sida who were distributing condoms. The police claimed they were kidnappers. They were ultimately released after considerable pressure was placed on the authorities. Despite the fact that complaints have been made to the authorities, there has been no response. Colectivo Amigos contra el Sida has issued a letter denouncing the attack.
blabbeando.blogspot.com
http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-on-bushwick-bias-crime-against.html
December 08, 2008
9
More on Bushwick bias crime against Ecuadorean brothers
Mike Lavers from EDGE covered today's press conference ("Brooklyn hate crime leaves man in critical condition"). From the article:
A 31-year-old Ecuadorian man remains in critical condition at Elmhurst Hospital after four men allegedly attacked him and his brother with baseball bats and bottles near their Bushwick home early Sunday morning in what police are investigating as a anti-gay and anti-Latino hate crime ...This attack comes a month after a group of seven Long Island teenagers allegedly attacked Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue. Local authorities have charged Jeffrey Conroy with second-degree murder as a hate crime for allegedly fatally stabbing Lucero in the chest on Nov. 8. They also charged him and his alleged co-conspirators with hate crime and conspiracy counts.
The New York Times City Room blog has additional details ("Bushwick beating investigated as a hate crime"): A law enforcement official said that at about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, the man and his brother, described by officials as Ecuadorian immigrants, were walking at Kossuth Place and Bushwick Avenue when a carload of men pulled up nearby. The brothers, who had been drinking, were walking “arm-in-arm” to support each other, the official said. A man who got out of the car yelled anti-gay and anti-Latino epithets at the brothers, then broke a bottle over the 31-year-old man’s head, the official said. His brother ran, and at least three other men who were in the car set upon the 31-year-old, beating him with a baseball bat and kicking him, the official said. The beating stopped when the brother returned, holding his cellphone, and told the attackers he had just called the police, the official said. All the attackers were black, the official said.
Update: The local ABC news station says the following video report [h/t NG]
* The two brothers were a block away from reaching home when they were attacked
* Their family lives in Ecuador and has been notified about the attack, they must now decide whether one of their sons, who is at Elmhurst Hospital, will be kept on life support.
* At today's press conference, Councilmember Diana Reyna said that the family has decided to not allow him to suffer"
* There is a vigil planned for tomorrow evening set to begin outside Elmhurst Hospital
Update 2: The Times now has a full report online ("Attack on Ecuadorean Brothers Investigated as Hate Crime"). It identifies the brother who is in life-support tonight as Jose Sucuzhanay (above), the owner of a real estate agency.
Update 3: On December 9th, there were reports that the most seriously injured of the brothers had died victims had died but those reports have now been retracted.
blabbeando.blogspot.com
http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2008/12/nicaragua-75-lgbt-activists-from.html
December 17, 2008
10
Nicaragua: 75 LGBT activists from the Central American region meet in Managua
by Andrés Duque
Seventy-five lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender delegates from different Central American countries congregated this past week in Nicaragua's capital city of Managua for what participants are calling the first such region-wide encounter, reports El Nuevo Diario ("First gathering on sexual diversity comes to an end", Dec. 15, 2008). Bismark Moraga, the coordinator of the gathering, said that he hoped that the meeting would bring a bout a new political vision on a regional level that would result in advocates demanding that their governments promote the recognition and respect for the rights of the LGBT communities including the right to education and health coverage as well as protection from discrimination.
The event, which was sponsored by the Norwegian embassy in Nicaragua, was organized by the Center for International Studies and the lesbian-rights organization SAFO. The event served as the launching venue for a new study that takes a look at gay life in Managua which revealed, among other things, that there are high levels of unemployment among LGBT community members who live in the city.
blabbeando.blogspot.com
http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2008/12/nicaragua-gay-us-citizen-murdered.html
December 17, 2008
11
Nicaragua: Gay US citizen murdered, authorities suspect 'crime of passion'
by Andrés Duque
Nicaragua's El Nuevo Diario reported on Saturday that 45 year-old Jackson Briceño, a former US resident who had moved to the Central American country two years ago "to enjoy his savings, after a life of work in the United States", died on the way to a hospital after being found at home with five stab wounds ("When love kills", Dec. 13, 2008). Authorities interviewed a 16 year-old nicknamed "La Chilo" who neighbors identified as the Briceño's partner but released him and said that he had not been at Briceño's residence on the night of the attack. The teenager, who lives in a poor rural area 15 miles away from Briceño's residence, was said to have been dating the man for eight months, often staying overnight.
“There was blood on the pillows, on the bed's mattress and all over the floor in the house," said an anonymous witness, "the scene was horrible, since it looked as if they had spilled red paint everywhere. When we were able to see that the man was being taken out by firemen and the police, we saw that he had wounds and blood all over his body." The forensic unit has revealed that a bloody knife was recovered near Briceño's home and that they also found strands of hair belonging to a man at the scene of the crime and have ruled out that a woman might have committed the crime. The police is investigating the killing as a possible "crime of passion." The first, they say, that they have seen between individuals of the same gender in more than eight years.
"Whoever killed him tried to make sure that he wouldn't be left alive," said Sergio Cano, the forensics expert. Nueva Ya reports that Briceño operated a foreign currency exchange business.
pinknews.co.uk
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10766.html
January 21, 2009
12
MEPs demand end to foreign aid to Nigeria over gay marriage ban
by Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
The European Parliament's Intergroup on gay rights has responded to moves to criminalise same-sex marriage in Nigeria by calling for a suspension of EU aid. Last week the House of Representatives in Nigeria voted unanimously in favour of a new legislation that "prohibits marriage between persons of same gender, solemnisation of same and other matters related therewith." Representatives said that both Islam and Christianity, the prominent religions in Nigeria, condemn homosexual acts.
"The only result this law is going to achieve is a raising hatred against gay, lesbian and transgender citizens of Nigeria," said Michael Cashman, Labour MEP and President of the LGBT Intergroup. "I do not understand how legislators in such a big and diverse country can be so cruel and indifferent to millions of their own people who are already such a marginalised and oppressed minority in their country."
The Intergroup is sending a request to the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid to evaluate the financial support given to Nigeria unless the state homophobia in the country is terminated. Nigerian law states that anyone who has "carnal knowledge of any person against order of nature or permits a male to have carnal knowledge of him" can be imprisoned for 14 years.
In 2007 the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill was debated in the Nigerian Parliament but did not proceed. It called for imprisonment for any person who "goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex", anyone who helps them and any gay clubs or organisations.
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