Noticias

During 2013, SOMOSGAY conducted campaigns, events, workshops, talks and debates that were promoted by various media and social networks, achieving a reach of over 750,000 people across Paraguay.

SOMOSGAY and AHF Latin America in May 2013 opened the first clinic of Health and Welfare for Men called "Kuimba'e" offering medical, psychological and dental treatments, plus instant HIV testing, vaccines for hepatitis, HPV, tetanus, among others, all of these services at no cost to all citizens.

In commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), in May 2013 was performed the KISS-IN. This activity was held in the main square opposite to the National Congress. In addition to the marathon kisses between gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples celebrated every year on the same day, the "Global Rainbow Flashmob " was held simultaneously around the world.

In June, was celebrated in the iconic Plaza de los Heroes, opposite to the National Panteon de los Heroes, the Equality Parade for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Straight 2013, commemorating the day of International LGBT Pride under the slogan "Building a more inclusive Paraguay ".

Also in 2013 the Community Agents Program was launched, an innovative program that formed more than 50 leaders were trained as replicators agents of more comprehensive strategies in health promotion and human rights. In this labour, they delivered more than 250,000 units of condoms and water-based lubricants and more than 35,000 magazines and informational materials. In November, the team of Community Agents participated in an international training in the City of Rosario, Argentina.

The year 2013 witnessed the consolidation of EQUIS Magazine, a quarterly magazine that informs LGBT Paraguayans in an agile and fun way on issues related to health, fitness, news and LGBT Human Rights. This year, Equis conducted interviews with key national figures like Menchi Barriocanal, Pelusa Rubin, Ticio Escobar, Tana Schémbori, Juan Carlos Maneglia, Maria Ines Lopez, Miguel Angel Auad and included the ongoing collaboration of Dr. Ivan Allende, Jorge Puig and other intellectuals of the country.

In September, as part of the 22nd International Film Festival in Paraguay, with the support of AHF, the free screening of the film C.R.A.Z.Y. at the Villamorra Cinecenter was organized. A room filled with hundreds of spectators in attendance was the evidence of the success achieved in this activity. Artistically during 2013 , SOMOSGAY supported the presentation of the play "The brotherhood of eggs" by Julio Torres , which was exhibited in the premises of the Alliance Française of Asunción. Important national actors starring Héctor Silva, Humberto Gulino, Rayam Mussi, Victor Sosa, Maria Elena Sachero, Daniel Galleano, Luz Saldivar, Ana Rosa Guggiari and others. "The brotherhood of eggs" is a comic drama in which five men, including two gay people living in a house where they find a home and a refuge to escape from the social pressure.

In November the National Meeting of Parents and Relatives of Young LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans) took place in Asuncion. This activity was attended by Marcela Ordenes from the Group of Parents, Relatives and Friends of Sexual Diversity of the MUMS Organization from Chile, as well as parents and families of LGBT youth across the country. This encounter created a space for socializing and sharing experiences where they could share skills, fears and challenges to improve the lives of LGBT family.

With the participation of representatives of ASICAL, the main articulation of gay men around the construction of citizenship and the promotion of Human Rights in Latin America, was held on November the 4th Latin American Meeting on Health, Citizenship, Human Rights of Gay Men. The main objective of this meeting was to validate the contents of the guide Sexual Health and Advocacy for men with a strong focus on human rights, in the current context of the HIV epidemic in gay men in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In commemoration of the World AIDS Day, which is remembered every December 1st around the world, the "Red Ribbon Week in Paraguay" gave place to a series of talks and presentations, days of free HIV and syphilis tests in several parts of the city of Asuncion. Also, the lights of the National Pantheon of Heroes, as a symbolic monument of the city of Asuncion , remained lit with red lights for every night of the week.

Together with DIVERSA network, the successful "Paraguay with rights, Human Paraguay" campaign was launched to commemorate the International Day of Human Rights, with the aim of positioning the universal protection of human rights as a political priority and perspective creating a culture of protection of the human dignity of all people in our country. In December, a historical presentation of the video of the campaign at the special meeting of the Chamber of Deputies to the accompaniment of Congresswoman Rocío Casco was performed.

Also throughout 2013, SOMOSGAY organized a collective artistic expression called "Graffities for Equality," which made artistic murals expressing different aspects of a diverse Paraguay and building a more just, equitable and inclusive society . The activity was carried out under the coordination of Oz Montanía, a recognized urban artist of our country.

And giving closure to a successful year, SOMOSGAY joins the collective struggle against homophobia, sexism, inequality and violence remain in history and possible construction of a supportive Paraguayan society, free from discrimination and equality for all, with the desire for a new year of progress and equality.