Noticias

On Monday May 18th at 11am, outside the National Congress of Paraguay, SOMOSGAY and the Paraguayan LGBT Federation will carry out a new edition of the “Besaton (Kiss-In): Kisses for Rights" in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).

For this event, all LGBT and straight couples who support equality and love are invited, claiming the right to love without this being cause for discrimination. In social networks, people who want to join can share a selfie with their partners or loved ones with the hashtag #MismoAmor (#SameLove)

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) is celebrated annually on May 17, when the World Health Organization stated that homosexuality is not a disorder or a mental illness, but a legitimate expression of human sexuality.

In 2014, the protests have been reported in 124 countries worldwide, generating more than 1,600 shares and the participation of more than 1,200 organizations, creating an unprecedented mobilization in social networks and the media, establishing the IDAHOT as one of the most important dates for the LGBT communities worldwide.

Over the years, the IDAHOT has received the attention of a large number of media and institutions, including the majority of UN agencies and official recognition of the European Parliament, many States and local authorities throughout the world.

In Paraguay, as in many other countries, homophobia is characterized by the fear and hate towards LGBT people, based on negative stereotypes and misconceptions that generate hatred, discrimination and violence. For many years and even today, the idea that if two people of the same sex kiss or hold hands in public spaces is summarized in that they are violating the law or "breaking the moral and traditional values".

It is known that public demonstrations of affect are not illegal, that there is no law stipulating a ban, but rather, that the Article 9 of Paraguay’s National Constitution clearly states that "nobody is forced to do what the law does not command or deprived of what it does not prohibit”.

With the Kiss-In, SOMOSGAY joins this global initiative with actions to banish discrimination from our society, to change hearts, minds, policies and laws to protect LGBT people and their families.