Colombia: 40 Years of LGBTQ Pride
Fundraising for a trans community organizing space in Bogotá
Colombia’s first Pride event was in 1983, three years after homosexuality was decriminalized. At the original march, there were 29 gay men, two lesbians, and a trans girl, according to El Tiempo. They didn’t do it again until 1996. But since then, Pride has grown dramatically.
Today, marchers gathered for the 40th anniversary, organized by La Mesa de Trabajo LGBTI Bogotá and Plataforma Trans.
Diana Cabrera wrote for Alerta Bogotá (in Spanish) that marchers seek equal treatment, basic healthcare and HIV treatment, education, housing, and employment — and this year special emphasis is placed on trans people. Colombia has same-sex marriage and adoption, and people can change the gender marker on their identity documents, including to nonbinary. However, many LGBTQ people are violently attacked, and trans people often struggle to obtain gender-affirming healthcare.
“¡Ley integral trans ya!”
The float in the photograph is sponsored by Corporación Red Somos, a community-based organization that works with LGBTIQ+ people and people living with HIV. “¡Ley integral trans ya!” means “Comprehensive trans law now!”
