As a country in South America that is also washed by the Caribbean, Venezuela’s geographic location on the northern coast of Latin America symbolizes its cultural uniquely and diverse historical background. Venezuela’s history shares commonality with other Latin American and Caribbean countries because of how its past has been strongly influenced by European colonization and oppression, which has had lasting effects on the nation’s culture. As a nation that has become a democracy since the fall of dictator Pérez Jiminez in 1958, the societal issues facing the country are modern and similar to those faced in other developed nations around the globe (Wagner, 2005). Some of these issues most prevalent in Venezuela include gender equity, environmental protection, employment opportunity, economic inflation and worker’s rights (Pew Research Center, 2013). However pressing other issues may be, a topic at hand in Venezuela that has reached its peak in recent months is the subject of LGBT+ rights.
Both the freedoms and restrictions that LGBT+ individuals have in Venezuela are reminiscent of its colonial past and the regulations put in place by colonizers from Spain. This Spanish policy was implemented in Latin American and Caribbean territories, including Venezuela during the times of colonization, beginning in 1521. During this time, one law in particular called the "Vagrants and Thugs' law”, or Ley de vagos y maleantes, was put in place to ensure the prevention of homosexual acts. This law was not as implemented in the Spanish colonies in Latin America as it was in its place of origin in the Iberian Peninsula, and was mostly meant to target male perpetrators whose homosexual behavior was seen as vulgar and unacceptable. If caught, homosexual persons were subjected to isolation, removal from society and restricted from interaction with others. In addition to the fact that Ley de vagus y maleantes was not as enforced in Spain’s American colonies, homosexuality in Venezuela has not been illegal since the country’s independence in 1811 (Equadex, 2013).
Today, research indicates that regardless of the country’s past historical apprehension about LGBT+ rights, 51% of Venezuelans say that society should accept homosexuality. This ranks the country at number 17 out of 39 countries, with a range of 1 being the country whose population is most supportive. Curiously, the country ranked number one is Spain, which given the previous information about homosexual discrimination enforced beginning during the colonial period is intriguing (Pew Research Center, 2013). The nearly even split among the Venezuelan population concerning this support for LGBT+ acceptance is representative of the policies currently enacted, which both promote and restrict LGBT+ rights. There are numerous examples of this, including the restriction of homosexual males from donating blood. Other policy counteracts this, like the right of openly homosexual persons to serve in the military since 1999, whereas in the United States, LGBT persons had been previously restricted from serving openly in the military, a policy called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” which was only recently repealed in 2011 (Cronk). These two similar policies in different countries highlight the extent to which Venezuela has been progressive about some law and policy concerning the protection of LGBT+ citizens and their rights. This is also exemplified by former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez’s opinion recorded in an interview on the legalization of gay marriage in the country, for which he stated that he didn't think Venezuela was ready for it (Blabbeando, 2009).
In addition to the protection of individuals whose sexuality or gender identity is deemed “alternative” to society, representation of the LGBT+ community in Venezuelan government has gained traction because of the recent election of a transgender woman into public office. Tamara Adrián, a former board member for ILGA (The International Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender and Intersex Association) has also worked for years as an activist for the LGBT+ community in Venezuela, and won an election to the National Assembly of Venezuela in December 2015. She is the first transgender woman in Venezuela to be elected to public office, and the second in Latin America to do so after Michelle Suárez Bértora to the Senate of Uruguay in 2014. Although she was elected to the National Assembly in a landslide with her affiliated party, Volutad Popular, she had to run using her given male birth name because of laws in Venezuela that restrict transgender individuals from changing their names (Thomas, 2016).
To understand why LGBT+ rights have become so prevalent and such a ripe issue for the country of Venezuela in recent years, we must examine their status as a developed Latin American country, which implies that the country’s status of industrialization has allowed it to focus on societal issues and bettering life for all Venezuelan citizens. For example, in 2011 Venezuelan General Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz founded a new government department dedicated towards eradicating violence and mistreatment towards women. Upon creation, the department had selected more than 43 public prosecutors to work to represent women who have experienced everything from inequity in the workplace to domestic violence. These prosecutors will work to uphold Venezuela’s law titled “Law on the Rights of Women to a life free from Violence” that was passed in 2007 (Reardon, 2011). The connection between gender inequity and violence against women is one that is easily made, but this can also be connected to the unfortunate treatment of those who identify as an alternative gender, or as one different from birth. For example, Venezuela does not have any laws in place to secure safety or equity in the workplace for transgender people, however some laws do protect against this discrimination for individuals of alternative sexual orientation, only in the workplace (Equaldex, 2013). When she was sworn in on January 5th of this year as the Alternate Deputy for Carcas, previously mentioned transgender politician and activist Tamara Adrian said that she would work to stop the eradication of previous LGBT+ legal protection by both former President Hugo Chávez and his successor, Nicolás Maduro. Adrian herself bridges the gap between sexual orientation and gender identity, as she identifies as a woman and as a lesbian. As mentioned before, it is illegal in Venezuela for transgender persons to formally change their names, so in addition to announcing her candidacy under her birth name, Adrián then married her female partner of 20 years under her original male name (Bates, 2015). Ironically, same sex marriage is still illegal in Venezuela (Equadex, 2013). Her plan to encourage LGBT+ acceptance in Venezuela also utilizes her position in the National Assembly and says that her “sole presence in the Parliament, it brings fresh air to an environment that was full of homophobia and transphobia…in the past, in this Assembly, people have been calling each other ‘mariconson,’ which is ‘faggot,’ basically. It’s unacceptable to say that in a Parliament. My presence will require tolerance and I will very strongly request that respect” (Bates, 2015). She has stated that her primary agenda is to fight for LGBT+ equality and work with others in the community to gather support for gender identity, anti-discrimination, and equal marriage laws. As of her election in December 2015, she has already submitted “a draft of her gender identity law, a civil partnership law, a non-discrimination law, and a civil registry law to the government” (Bates, 2015). Adrian believes that these laws are vital to Venezuela for the provision of fundamental human rights.
As a Latin American country that shares colonial heritage with its Caribbean neighbors, Venezuela has experienced many setbacks relating to the influence of Spanish colonization, particularly as it refers to LGBT+ rights. Although being extremely progressive in areas relating to these rights as well as gender protection, the nation still has a ways to go in terms of the protection of both gender identification and sexual orientation. These issues are recognized by newly appointed Deputy Tamara Adrián, who is the second Latin American transgender woman to be elected to public office. Adrián hopes that her leadership will encourage and advocate for the pass of anti-discrimination and same sex marriage legislation in the coming years. The LGBT+ movement in Venezuela has been marred by historical discrimination, but has an optimistic future.
For more on Tamara Adrian, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6V_mTeCGgE
Works Cited
1) Paletta, Daniele. "ILGA Congratulates Tamara Adrián for Her Election to the National Assembly in Venezuela." ILGA: International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. N.p., 07 Dec. 2015. Web.
2) "Equadex: LGBT Rights in Venezuela." Equaldex. Pew Research Center, 4 June 2013. Web.
3) Wagner, Sarah. "Women and Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution." Venezuela News, Views, and Analysis. N.p., 15 Jan. 2005. Web.
4) Reardon, Juan. "Venezuela Establishes National Offices for the Defense of Women." Venezuela News, Views, and Analysis. N.p., 16 Sept. 2011. Web.
5) Cuddington, Danielle. "Wide Ideological Divides on Most Major Issues as Venezuela’s Elections Near." Pew Research Centers Global Attitudes Project RSS. N.p., 02 Dec. 2015. Web.
6) Cronk, Terri Moon. "Officer Describes Life After Don't Ask Don't Tell." U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. DoD News, Defense Media Activity, 8 June 2015. Web.
7) Blabbeando. "Hugo Chavez on Marriage between Same-sex Couples." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Nov. 2009. Web.
8) Bates, Daniel. "Meet Tamara Adrián, Venezuela’s Crusading Trans Politician." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 15 Dec. 2015. Web.
9) Thomas, Ian. "Tamara Adrián – First Transgender Deputy to Be Elected into Office in Venezuela." Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month. Black Culture Archives, 11 Jan. 2016. Web.
10) Abeni, Cleis. "Meet the First Trans Legislator Elected to the Venezuelan National Assembly." Advocate: Gay News, LGBT Rights, Politics, Entertainment. N.p., 23 Jan. 2016. Web.
Today, research indicates that regardless of the country’s past historical apprehension about LGBT+ rights, 51% of Venezuelans say that society should accept homosexuality. This ranks the country at number 17 out of 39 countries, with a range of 1 being the country whose population is most supportive. Curiously, the country ranked number one is Spain, which given the previous information about homosexual discrimination enforced beginning during the colonial period is intriguing (Pew Research Center, 2013). The nearly even split among the Venezuelan population concerning this support for LGBT+ acceptance is representative of the policies currently enacted, which both promote and restrict LGBT+ rights. There are numerous examples of this, including the restriction of homosexual males from donating blood. Other policy counteracts this, like the right of openly homosexual persons to serve in the military since 1999, whereas in the United States, LGBT persons had been previously restricted from serving openly in the military, a policy called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” which was only recently repealed in 2011 (Cronk). These two similar policies in different countries highlight the extent to which Venezuela has been progressive about some law and policy concerning the protection of LGBT+ citizens and their rights. This is also exemplified by former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez’s opinion recorded in an interview on the legalization of gay marriage in the country, for which he stated that he didn't think Venezuela was ready for it (Blabbeando, 2009).
In addition to the protection of individuals whose sexuality or gender identity is deemed “alternative” to society, representation of the LGBT+ community in Venezuelan government has gained traction because of the recent election of a transgender woman into public office. Tamara Adrián, a former board member for ILGA (The International Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender and Intersex Association) has also worked for years as an activist for the LGBT+ community in Venezuela, and won an election to the National Assembly of Venezuela in December 2015. She is the first transgender woman in Venezuela to be elected to public office, and the second in Latin America to do so after Michelle Suárez Bértora to the Senate of Uruguay in 2014. Although she was elected to the National Assembly in a landslide with her affiliated party, Volutad Popular, she had to run using her given male birth name because of laws in Venezuela that restrict transgender individuals from changing their names (Thomas, 2016).
To understand why LGBT+ rights have become so prevalent and such a ripe issue for the country of Venezuela in recent years, we must examine their status as a developed Latin American country, which implies that the country’s status of industrialization has allowed it to focus on societal issues and bettering life for all Venezuelan citizens. For example, in 2011 Venezuelan General Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz founded a new government department dedicated towards eradicating violence and mistreatment towards women. Upon creation, the department had selected more than 43 public prosecutors to work to represent women who have experienced everything from inequity in the workplace to domestic violence. These prosecutors will work to uphold Venezuela’s law titled “Law on the Rights of Women to a life free from Violence” that was passed in 2007 (Reardon, 2011). The connection between gender inequity and violence against women is one that is easily made, but this can also be connected to the unfortunate treatment of those who identify as an alternative gender, or as one different from birth. For example, Venezuela does not have any laws in place to secure safety or equity in the workplace for transgender people, however some laws do protect against this discrimination for individuals of alternative sexual orientation, only in the workplace (Equaldex, 2013). When she was sworn in on January 5th of this year as the Alternate Deputy for Carcas, previously mentioned transgender politician and activist Tamara Adrian said that she would work to stop the eradication of previous LGBT+ legal protection by both former President Hugo Chávez and his successor, Nicolás Maduro. Adrian herself bridges the gap between sexual orientation and gender identity, as she identifies as a woman and as a lesbian. As mentioned before, it is illegal in Venezuela for transgender persons to formally change their names, so in addition to announcing her candidacy under her birth name, Adrián then married her female partner of 20 years under her original male name (Bates, 2015). Ironically, same sex marriage is still illegal in Venezuela (Equadex, 2013). Her plan to encourage LGBT+ acceptance in Venezuela also utilizes her position in the National Assembly and says that her “sole presence in the Parliament, it brings fresh air to an environment that was full of homophobia and transphobia…in the past, in this Assembly, people have been calling each other ‘mariconson,’ which is ‘faggot,’ basically. It’s unacceptable to say that in a Parliament. My presence will require tolerance and I will very strongly request that respect” (Bates, 2015). She has stated that her primary agenda is to fight for LGBT+ equality and work with others in the community to gather support for gender identity, anti-discrimination, and equal marriage laws. As of her election in December 2015, she has already submitted “a draft of her gender identity law, a civil partnership law, a non-discrimination law, and a civil registry law to the government” (Bates, 2015). Adrian believes that these laws are vital to Venezuela for the provision of fundamental human rights.
As a Latin American country that shares colonial heritage with its Caribbean neighbors, Venezuela has experienced many setbacks relating to the influence of Spanish colonization, particularly as it refers to LGBT+ rights. Although being extremely progressive in areas relating to these rights as well as gender protection, the nation still has a ways to go in terms of the protection of both gender identification and sexual orientation. These issues are recognized by newly appointed Deputy Tamara Adrián, who is the second Latin American transgender woman to be elected to public office. Adrián hopes that her leadership will encourage and advocate for the pass of anti-discrimination and same sex marriage legislation in the coming years. The LGBT+ movement in Venezuela has been marred by historical discrimination, but has an optimistic future.
For more on Tamara Adrian, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6V_mTeCGgE
Works Cited
1) Paletta, Daniele. "ILGA Congratulates Tamara Adrián for Her Election to the National Assembly in Venezuela." ILGA: International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. N.p., 07 Dec. 2015. Web.
2) "Equadex: LGBT Rights in Venezuela." Equaldex. Pew Research Center, 4 June 2013. Web.
3) Wagner, Sarah. "Women and Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution." Venezuela News, Views, and Analysis. N.p., 15 Jan. 2005. Web.
4) Reardon, Juan. "Venezuela Establishes National Offices for the Defense of Women." Venezuela News, Views, and Analysis. N.p., 16 Sept. 2011. Web.
5) Cuddington, Danielle. "Wide Ideological Divides on Most Major Issues as Venezuela’s Elections Near." Pew Research Centers Global Attitudes Project RSS. N.p., 02 Dec. 2015. Web.
6) Cronk, Terri Moon. "Officer Describes Life After Don't Ask Don't Tell." U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. DoD News, Defense Media Activity, 8 June 2015. Web.
7) Blabbeando. "Hugo Chavez on Marriage between Same-sex Couples." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Nov. 2009. Web.
8) Bates, Daniel. "Meet Tamara Adrián, Venezuela’s Crusading Trans Politician." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 15 Dec. 2015. Web.
9) Thomas, Ian. "Tamara Adrián – First Transgender Deputy to Be Elected into Office in Venezuela." Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month. Black Culture Archives, 11 Jan. 2016. Web.
10) Abeni, Cleis. "Meet the First Trans Legislator Elected to the Venezuelan National Assembly." Advocate: Gay News, LGBT Rights, Politics, Entertainment. N.p., 23 Jan. 2016. Web.
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