By Vince Kovach, November 14, 2016
As part of our ongoing efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean, Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, our Dominican Republic partner Diversidad Dominicana and Colombian partner Caribe Afirmativo will bring together over two hundred LGBTI and allied government leaders, community leaders, and activists from the region to discuss the importance and benefit of LGBTI political participation. The third meeting of “LGBTI Political Leadership in Latin America and the Caribbean” in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic will take place on March 31st through April 2nd, 2017.
“This type of event is fundamental for to strengthening the empowerment and political participation of LGBTQ people,” says Nancy Prada, Gender Coordinator with Nacional Center for the Collective Memory in Colombia. Workshops, training sessions, and networking events will be held throughout the three-day conference, with a particular focus on the Caribbean states where anti-sodomy laws remain. These laws leave LGBTI advocates and people open to intense political exclusion, legal discrimination, and even jail time for their sexual and gender identities.
Above: Watch participants speak about the conference in Tegucigalpa in October 2015.
This is the third meeting of its kind, with past meetings held in Lima, Peru and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Political and social leaders from across the region have attended and spoken on issues facing their constituents, and have collaborated with each other to formulate ideas and solid plans of action to benefit the political inclusion of their communities. This meeting will continue those conversations and track progress to date.
This event is made possible with support from USAID, The Inter-American Foundation, Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice and the National Endowment for Democracy.
For more information and to register, visit the event website.
