Noticias

SOMOSGAY and the Paraguayan LGBT Federation held the sixth edition of the Besatón (Kiss-In), in order to gain visibility for the LGBT community, in addition to urge local authorities on passing laws to protect people from homophobia and discrimination.

For this event, all LGBT and straight couples who support equality and love were 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.

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.