Queer Central America
By Olvin J. Abrego Ayala
The queer liberatory movement in Central America stands alongside battles against imperialism, extractivism, neocolonialism, and the patriarchy, all of which are interconnected. Among the seven countries in Central America, only Costa Rica allows same-sex marriage. While explicit criminalization is uncommon, implicit criminalization and discrimination persist in the isthmus. Within their specificities, each country has its unique challenges rooted in colonial legacies, such as Belize, upholding outdated British laws against gay relationships.
Following the 2009 coup in Honduras, the LGBTQ+ community emerged as a resilient force in resistance, which made it a target to the state and conservative groups. In 2024, El Salvador initiated campaigns against “gender ideology,” misrepresenting Queer Theory and Gender Studies.
Amidst queer migrations and ongoing discrimination, the visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals becomes crucial, emphasizing not only struggles but also queer joy and resilience.
AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES
Raíces presents the history of the LGBTIQ movement in Guatemala from the perspective of different people who lived or were impacted by the actions of activists and organizations that forged the history of the movement.
Qué es ser LGTBI en Honduras aims to convey the reality of LGTBI+ people in Honduras, giving a voice to its protagonists and recording the violation of their rights in different areas.
Nayib Bukele promised an inclusive San Salvador as a mayoral candidate and said he did not want to be “on the side of the discriminators.” But since 2019, his government has eliminated government and political entities that sought to guarantee the rights of the LGBTIQ+ population. This video reviews the deterioration in the guarantee of rights for LGBTIQ+ people since Bukele became President.
Seeking Asylum in the US to Escape Trans Discrimination: Migration to the US offers hope for those fleeing violence and discrimination, but trans migrants often face dangers and discrimination upon arrival.
FILMS
28 De Junio: Vicky vs Honduras
HIGH SCHOOL/ADULT
The documentary June 28: Vicky vs Honduras follows the story of Vicky Hernández, a trans woman murdered during the 2009 coup d'état in Honduras. It details the legal battle led by the Cattrachas Lesbian Network and Vicky's family to seek justice despite obstacles and threats, culminating in a favorable ruling against the State of Honduras after twelve years. View online for free 83 minutes.
José
ADULT
José centers on the experiences of a young gay Guatemalan man who lives with his mother. This coming-of-age film delves into the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals as they pursue love in a deeply religious and homophobic society. Notably, it stands as one of the initial Guatemalan films to portray queer relationships. 85 minutes.
Imperdonable/Unforgivable
HIGH SCHOOL/ADULT
Geovany, a ruthless hitman from the Barrio 18 gang, is serving his sentence in an isolation cell in a Salvadoran prison. In prison, he withdrew from the gang and joined an evangelical church that granted him God's forgiveness. However, there is one sin that is unforgivable for both the church and the gang: Geovany is gay.
Cálido Afuera
HIGH SCHOOL/ADULT
In a turbulent political period following the declaration of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in favor of equal marriage in Costa Rica, a lesbian woman, a gay man and a transgender woman face a new coming out of the closet, but this time public and in favor of sexual diversity in the country.
Ghost Empire § Belize
HIGH SCHOOL/ADULT
Ghost Empire § Belize examines the constitutional challenge taken by Belizean activist Caleb Orozco against Section 53, a 19th century British colonial law criminalising acts ‘against the order of nature’. Opposition to the case by evangelical Christian groups has included symbolic hangings of an effigy of LGBTQ+ group UNIBAM. The film follows Orozco from 2015 through 2020.
Sex and the Sandinistas
HIGH SCHOOL/ADULT
The documentary Sex and the Sandinistas reveals the untold story of how queer Nicaraguans fought for recognition within the Sandinista Revolution. It explores the LGBTQ+ community in Managua, showcasing safe sex demonstrations, drag shows, love poetry, and discussions on gender roles. The film captures the unique experience of LGBTQ+ individuals during the Latin American Revolution, shedding light on their struggles and triumphs.
BOOKS
IMPORTANT FIGURES
Gaspar Sánchez is a Honduran human rights defender. He dropped out of the fifth grade in 2003 and became a member of the Council of Indigenous and Popular Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). Since 2014 he has served on COPINH’s leadership team as the Coordinator of Sexual Diversity & Rights Equality, which, for the first time in any Latin American Indigenous organization, established a space dealing specifically with LGBTI-related issues..
Gilberto R. Gerald was born in Panama. He temporarily resided in Trinidad and Tobago before immigrating to the United States in 1967 to pursue higher education. While working as an architect, he gradually became involved in the gay and lesbian rights movement. In 1978, he co-founded the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays (NCBLG), becoming (the first paid) executive director of the organization in 1983.
Vicky Hernández was a trans rights defender, sex worker, and a member of Unidad Color Rosa, a collective dedicated to the defense of the rights of trans people in Honduras.
Her murder at the hands of Honduran police in 2009 started a struggle that reached the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Click to watch her documentary.
Caleb Orozco is the Executive Director of the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM), which provides health education and other services primarily to men who have sex with men, and seeks to safeguard their basic human rights. Orozco, a long-time activist for the rights of sexual minorities and HIV/AIDS vulnerable communities, has worked for years to eradicate stigma through local, regional, and international forums. Click to watch his documentary trailer.
Colman Jason Domingo is an American actor, playwright and director of both African American, Belizean and Guatemalan descent. Prominent on both screen and stage, he has received various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, and nominations for an Academy Award and two Tony Awards.
Chavela Vargas was a Costa Rican-born Mexican singer, she gained widespread recognition for her distinctive interpretations of Mexican rancheras. However, her impact extends beyond this genre, encompassing various styles within popular Latin American music.
PODCAST
Jaz and Lalay- Radio Ambulante
Upon meeting, Jazmín Elizondo and Laura Flores-Estrada had an intense connection. They found a better version of themselves in each other and never wanted to be apart again. But it's hard to have a relationship in a society that discriminates against you because of your sexual orientation. This is the story of how, thanks to a bureaucratic error, an act of love became an act of protest.
