LGBT global news 24-7

Home » Content about LGBT rights in Colombia

Content about LGBT rights in Colombia

April 23, 2013
Colombia senate gay marriage champion speaks ahead of key vote

Straight Green party senator John Sudarksy has emerged as a champion of LGBT equality and talks about why he thinks it unlikely Colombia’s Senate will say ‘I do’ to gay marriage

As the Colombian Senate prepares its second attempt to vote on marriage equality bill shortly today, we speak to Green Party senator John Sudarsky, an ardent supporter of LGBT rights in Colombia.

Last week Colombia’s Senate decided to postpone the debate on same sex marriage until today (23 April).

However most commentators are pessimistic, after an agreement was allegedly reached between Colombia’s two largest parties, the Conservative and the ‘U’, to not allow the bill to become law.

April 18, 2013
Colombia's Senate postpones gay marriage vote

After a three-hour debate, where a majority of Colombian senators appeared to oppose marriage equality, Colombia’s senate postponed the debate to next week

The Colombian Senate decides to suspend marriage equality vote until Tuesday (23 April) by a vote of 35-30.

Only 65 senators attended the vote out of the Senate's 102 members.

During an intense discussion that started today (17 April) at 5pm local time, the Senate unexpectedly postponed the vote on the equal marriage bill.

The decision was made following a proposal of the Senator Juan Restrepo of the ruling 'U' party, who pointed out that the debate ‘was very important’ for country’s future and that therefore it should be delayed.

December 5, 2012
Gay marriage bill passes first vote in Colombia

A bill to legalize same-sex marriage passed the first of four votes in order to become law in Colombia

A bill legalizing gay marriage past the first of four votes amid criticism from conservative groups.

The bill was was approved on Tuesday (4 November) by 10 votes against five senators of the first committee of the Senate responsible for constitutional matters, reported the portal Univision.

The bill will now face a vote in the Colombian Senate however no date was yet set for a debate and vote.

November 22, 2012
Lesbian sex is 'inane', gay sex is 'revolting' says Colombian Senator

Conservative Senator Roberto Gerlein sparks outrage with a homophobic tirade during a session in Congress held to debate same-sex marriage

A Colombian Senator has gone on a homophobic attack to express his opposition to gay marriage.

Roberto Gerlein said gay sex is 'excremental and deserves condemnation' on 20 November (Tuesday) during a session in Congress where politicians debated the legalization of gay marriage.

For nearly 20 minutes, Gerlein went on an anti-gay rant, saying that homosexuals are people 'born with the bad luck of having a smaller hypothalamus than heterosexuals, that's why gay people are born'.

May 28, 2012
Gay rights are changing Latin America

GSN explores who's bucking trends and making waves to elevate the profile of LGBT communities in Mexico, the Carribean, Central and South America 

It's not Facebook's fault. Don't blame the drag queens.

But Latin America is becoming gayer.

Gay, bi and trans communities in Latin America have always existed, albeit quietly. With gay rights issues gaining prominence around the world, LGBT communities in Latin America are making themselves known to their neighbors, politicians and the world.

'It's not that there are more gays and lesbians living in Latin America,' wrote Javier Corrales, political science professor at Amherst College and editor of the book The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America.

May 27, 2012
Colombia grants gay couples right to express affection publicly

Ruling comes after two gay men were escorted out of a Cali mall for kissing in public

Colombia’s constitutional court has ruled the government cannot restrict gay couples’ right to express affection in public.

The ruling comes after two men were forced to leave a Cali mall when a security guard found them kissing in public.

The court decided the incident was in violation of the couple’s human rights.

The judge stated in his ruling the security guard's actions showed ‘discrimination that only affected gay couples.’

May 11, 2012
Colombian Catholic priest's gay partner wins his pension

The Constitutional Court of Colombia makes history by ordering that a Catholic priest's secret partner of 28 years is entitled to pension rights - despite vow of chastity

The gay partner of a dead Catholic priest has been told he is allowed to have his lover's pension - despite the cleric's vow of chastity.

The Constitutional Court of Colombia found in favor of the partner, who lived with the priest for 28 years before his death in 2009, in  landmark ruling, unprecedented in the history of Colombia and possibly Latin America.

April 23, 2012
Mayor creates gay branch for Bogota, Colombia

Mayor Gustavo Petro's LGBTI Affairs Branch will address reports of homophobia in capital city

Gustavo Petro, the mayor of Colombia's capital, Bogota, has launched the LGBTI Affairs Branch to address local problems of discrimination based on sexual-orientation.

The group will also build an education and events venue to further raise awareness of other lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex issues throughout the city.