Colombia: Urgent Support Still Needed For Same-Sex Unions Bill
11/18/2002
UPDATE
The Colombian Senate is still discussing the same-sex unions bill introduced by Senators Piedad Cordoba and Carlos Gaviria, which, if passed, will grant rights to inheritance and social security to lesbian and gay couples. The proposed legislation also mandates the inclusion of updated and scientifically-based information on homosexuality and transsexuality into public school curricula at all levels and punishments for homophobic hate speech. The Catholic Church and other right wing forces are intensively campaigning against the bill. They have already funded two homophobic advertisements in one of Colombia's main newspapers, El Espectador.
ACTION
Lesbian and gay organizations in Colombia ask for URGENT email letters supporting the same-sex unions bill and condemning the actions of the Catholic Church and other right wing opponents. If you have not written a letter yet, please do it now.
Please WRITE TODAY to:
You will find below a copy of the letter written by Colombian activists in Spanish, with an English translation. We suggest that you send the letter in Spanish.
Also, if you wish to express your opinion to the newspaper El Espectador, please write to:
- Mr. Cesar Salgar, Online Editor
- E-mail: cesalgar@elespectador.com
Fax: +57 1 220 0741 or +57 1 220 0742 or +57 1 220 0743
SAMPLE LETTER
Honorables Senadores
de la República de Colombia
Piedad Córdoba
Carlos Gaviria
Queremos expresar nuestro apoyo al proyecto de ley sobre parejas del mismo sexo, que en este momento cursa aprobación en el Senado de la República de Colombia, por considerar que se trata de una iniciativa por buscar la igualdad de derechos civiles de los nacionales de este país, en concordancia con su Constitución PolÌtica y diversos pactos ratificados por Colombia a nivel internacional.
Esta iniciativa demuestra que la construcción de Colombia como un Estado de derecho, democr·ático y participativo es un proyecto de país que defienden representantes electos en varias ocasiones o por votaciones muy significativas y que se han caracterizado por persistir en la defensa de los derechos de minorías sociales y grupos vulnerados.
Queremos también expresar nuestro repudio a la posición de algunas personalidades de la escena nacional en Colombia que, mediante la amplia difusión de un discurso antidemocrático y homofóbico, argumentado con afirmaciones imprecisas y poco fundamentadas, quieren que se niegue la posibilidad ó a por lo menos dos millones de colombianas y colombianos de constituirse en sujetos de derechos, esto en contra de lo que promulga la Constitución Política de Colombia, que establece garantías para todos los ciudadanas y ciudadanos colombianos sin distingo alguno. Además, esta posición va en contravía de las luchas sociales, y sus logros en el mundo, alrededor de la construcción de verdaderas posibilidades de hacer de cada poblador y pobladora un ciudadano pleno en derechos.
Es importante recordar que las instituciones humanas no legislan sobre la naturaleza sino sobre la ciudadanía.
Cordialmente, (Your name, affiliation and address)
English Translation
Honorable Senators of the Colombian Republic
Ms. Piedad Cordoba
Mr. Carlos Gaviria
We want to express our support of the same-sex couples bill that is currently being discussed by the Colombian Republic Senate, as we consider it an initiative that aims to ensure equality in civil rights for all citizens of Colombia, in concordance with the Political Constitution and several international treaties ratified by Colombia.
The initiative shows that the transformation of Colombia into a democratic, participatory and law-abiding State is a project supported by elected officers who have gained the citizens' vote on more than one occasion and who have always persisted in defending the rights of social minorities and vulnerable groups.
We also want to condemn the position of some political figures in Colombia who have authored a document that is anti-democratic and homophobic, and full of statements that are either ambiguous or poorly sustained. These citizens want to deny to approximately two million Colombians the possibility of enjoying their rights, something that goes against the Colombian Political Constitution, which guarantees protection for all Colombians without distinction. Their position goes also against social struggles all over the world, and their achievement in rendering every inhabitant a true citizen, with full enjoyment of her/his rights.
It is important to remember that human institutions do not legislate on nature but on citizenship.
Yours respectfully, (Your name, affiliation, and address)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The paid statement published by the newspaper El Espectador on Sunday, November 17, 2002, includes the following claims:
- The rights of lesbians and homosexuals are fully protected by current legislation. The proposal is aimed at establishing for them "unacceptable privileges" that will violate the principle of equality consecrated by the Colombian Constitution.
- Sex is determined by genetic makeup. Gender differences are a biological and natural fact. Men and women are designed to perfectly complement each other, while individuals of the same sex repel one another, anatomically and physiologically.
- Homosexual unions are "anti-community" and against human ecology.
- The passing of the law is considered a "sinister utopia".
For additional information on the Colombian Same-Sex Unions Bill, please see our previous action alerts:
- "Peru: Urgent Support Needed for Same-Sex Unions Bill," November 11, 2002.
- "Peru: Senate Session Suspended, Support Bill Now," November 16, 2001.
- "Peru: Support Civil Unions and Non-Discrimination Bill," November 14, 2001.
IN THE LAW
International human rights legislation supporting the claims made by Senator Cordoba's proposal:
- Right to non-discrimination (Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Article 1 of the Interamerican Human Rights Convention)
- Right to equality before the law (Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Article 24 of the Interamerican Human Rights Convention)
- Right to own property (Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 21 of the Interamerican Human Rights Convention)
- Right to freedom of association (Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Article 16 of the Interamerican Human Rights Convention)
- Right to social security (Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
- Right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of her/himself and of her/his family (Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 11/12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
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