LGBT rights in Bolivia

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Bolivia may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Bolivia. The Bolivian Constitution bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, making Bolivia one of the only few countries in the world to have such constitutional protections for LGBT people. In 2016, Bolivia passed the Gender Identity Law, seen as one of the most progressive laws related to transgender people in the world.

LGBT rights in Bolivia
StatusLegal since 1832
Gender identityRight to change legal gender since 2016
Discrimination protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity protections
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsNo
RestrictionsSame-sex marriage and "free unions" banned by Constitution
AdoptionSingle persons not restricted

Nevertheless, reports of discrimination against LGBT people are not uncommon. In 2017, the Bolivian Ombudsman reported that 64 LGBT people had been murdered in the country that year, of which only 14 cases had been investigated and none which resulted in a sentence.[1]

History

Prior to Spanish colonisation, various indigenous peoples inhabited modern-day Bolivia. Among these were the Quechua people (including the Incas), the Aymara people, the Guaraní people, the Chiquitano, and the Moxo, among others. Homosexuality and same-sex relationships has been documented among these people groups, with varying levels of acceptance.

The Moxo, Chiquitano, Guaraní and Chiriguanos peoples tended to view homosexuality with indifference.[2] The Aymara people regarded homosexuals as supernatural beings and shamans, capable of magic.[3] However, this past acceptance and openness are not so present in modern times. The conversion to Christianity, which traditionally has regarded homosexuality as sinful, has resulted in a climate of homophobia and persecution for LGBT people. This is notably true among the Aymara, whose popular culture now regards homosexuality as a synonym to infidelity or bad luck. The traditional perception of homosexuality, especially male homosexuality, by the Incas is still unclear and is the subject of ongoing debates. Nonetheless, it seems as though homosexuality was a tolerated "act of worship" in religious rituals, and traditions of cross-dressing priests (known as quariwarmi) who would perform religious rituals also existed. Lesbians (known as holjoshta) seem to have been highly regarded by the Incas. Following the Spanish conquest, sodomy became punishable with burning at the stake.[4][5]

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1832.[6]

The age of consent in Bolivia is set at 14, per Article 308bis (known as "Rape of Infants, Girls, Boys and Adolescents" (Violación Infantes, Niña, Niño y Adolescentes)) of the Criminal Code, which punishes rape (violación) of children under 14, "even without the use of force or intimidation and when consent is alleged" (así no haya uso de la fuerza o intimidación y se alegue consentimiento). There is a close in age exemption of three years.[7]

Recognition of same-sex relationships
Recognition of same-sex unions in South America
  Marriage
  Other type of partnership
  Country subject to IACHR ruling (Venezuela: only Guaidó administration accepts jurisdiction of IACHR)[8]
  Unrecognized
  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples
  Same-sex sexual activity illegal, though penalties not enforced

Article 63 of the Constitution limits marriage and free unions (uniones libres) to opposite-sex couples.[9]

In July 2010, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Argentina, Vice President Álvaro García Linera said that the Government had no plans to legalize same-sex marriage.[10]

In April 2012, a member of the opposition coalition, the National Convergence, introduced a bill in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly to legalize same-sex civil unions.[11][12] However, the bill was not approved.[13]

In July 2014, Bolivia's public advocate Rolando Villena called for same-sex unions to be included in the country's new Family Code.[14] On 16 October 2014, the Bolivian Senate passed a revised Family Code that did away with any gender-specific terms. Couples had hoped that this may open the door to giving same-sex couples many rights that heterosexual couples enjoy. The Code was approved in the House of Representatives and was enacted in August 2015.[15] The new Family Code made no mention of gender to do away with discrimination, but it was clarified that it has no legal weight to apply to same-sex couples, as a separate law is needed. LGBT rights groups have begun asking the Government to pass a law so they may finally be recognised.[16]

In April 2015, the country's Vice President stated that "sooner rather than later" a discussion on same-sex partnerships would happen in Bolivia. This statement was followed by the Senate President's comments that the Government is open to discussing the idea although the initiative is not on the current agenda. Both the leading party MAS and the opposition have expressed being open to dialogue on the issue.[17]

On 21 September 2015, the country's largest LGBT rights group handed the Bolivian Assembly a bill to legalize same-sex unions under the term "Family Life Agreement". The Family Life Agreement proposal seeks to grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples with the exception of adoptions.[17]

Appeal to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

In May 2018, Bolivian LGBT groups filed an appeal with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) in order to recognize the marriages of transgender people.[18] The appeal relies on a January 2018 ruling by the IACHR, to which Bolivia is a signatory, that the American Convention on Human Rights mandates and requires the recognition of same-sex marriage.[19]

Adoption and parenting

Bolivia's 2009 Constitution bans adoption by same-sex couples.[20]

Single people, regardless of their sexual orientation, may adopt children, according to Article 84 of the Child and Adolescent Code. Couples may not adopt jointly unless the couple is legally married or in a free union;[21] this makes joint adoption impossible for same-sex couples, since the 2009 Constitution also bans legal unions of same-sex couples.

Discrimination protections

Article 14(II) of the Constitution of Bolivia, implemented in February 2009, prohibits and punishes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[lower-alpha 1]

Anti-discrimination law

The Law Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination (Spanish: Ley Contra el Racismo y Toda Forma de Discriminación) defines discrimination as "any form of distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on sex, colour, age, sexual orientation and gender identity, origin, culture, nationality, citizenship, language, religion, ideology, political or philosophical affiliation, marital status, economic, social or health status, profession, occupation, level of education, disabilities and/or physical disabilities, intellectual or sensory impairment, pregnancy, origin, physical appearance, clothing, surname or other that have the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized by the Constitution and international law." It also provides definitions for homophobia and transphobia.[23]

Article 23 of the law amended the Penal Code. Therefore, Article 281 of the Penal Code now criminalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It also bans "dissemination and incitement to racism and discrimination", stating that anyone who "through any means broadcasts ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, or that promote or justify racism or any kind of discrimination on the grounds described above, or that incite to violence or persecution of people, based on racist or discriminatory motives will be imprisoned from one to five years."[lower-alpha 2]

Despite these protections, reports of societal discrimination against LGBT people are not uncommon.[25]

Hate crime law

Since 2010, Article 40 bis of the Penal Code aggravates the penalties of crimes motivated by any of the discriminatory grounds included in Article 281ter, including sexual orientation and gender identity.[26] In May 2016, the LGBT rights group Colectivo de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales y personas Transgénero presented to the Plurinational Legislative Assembly a draft law against hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity, which includes a penalty of 30 years imprisonment.[27]

Gender identity and expression

On 25 November 2015, a law was proposed that would allow transgender people to change their legal name and genders.[28] On 19 May 2016, the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia passed the Gender Identity Law (Spanish: Ley de Identidad de Género). One day later, the Senate passed the measure by simple majority votes.[29] On 21 May 2016, the bill was signed into law by Vice President Álvaro García Linera. The law took effect on 1 August 2016.[30] In October 2016, the Bolivian Congress debated whether to repeal it.[31]

The Gender Identity Law allows individuals over 18 to legally change their name, gender and photography on legal documents. A psychological test proving that the person knows and voluntarily assumes the change of identity is required, but sex reassignment surgery is not. The process is confidential and must be carried out before the Civil Registry Service. The processing of the new documentation will take 15 days. The change of name and gender will be reversible once, after which they cannot modify these data again.

The newly assigned gender is not, however, recognized for the purpose of marriage. In June 2017, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal instructed the Civil Registry Service to recognize the newly assigned gender of transgender people in their requests to marry.[32] As Bolivia only recognizes opposite-sex marriage, the couple's genders are legally relevant. In November 2017, the Supreme Court of Bolivia invalidated this instruction, ruling it unconstitutional, and declaring that a gender changed under the Gender Identity Law may not be recognized for the purpose of marriage.[33] LGBT groups filed an appeal with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in May 2018.[18]

Military service

The Armed Forces of Bolivia announced in 2013 that LGBT citizens would be allowed to serve beginning in 2015.[34] Bolivia also allows transgender people to serve openly in the military.[35][36][37] Despite this, homosexuality in the military is still viewed as taboo, and LGBT individuals may want to remain discreet about their sexual orientation or gender identity.[38][39]

Blood donation

Since 10 July 2019, the Supreme Decree 24547 of 1997 (Spanish: Decreto Supremo Nº 24547) has permitted men who have sex with men to donate blood.[40][41]

Previously, the decree banned homosexual and bisexual men from donating blood, labelling them "a high-risk group".[42] In June 2016, the Ombudsman asked the Government to amend the decree, stating that the Law Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.[43]

Public opinion

A 2013 Pew Research Center opinion survey showed that 43% of Bolivians believed that homosexuality should be accepted by society, while 49% believed it should not.[44] Younger people were more accepting: 53% of people between 18 and 29 believed it should be accepted, 43% of people between 30 and 49 and 27% of people over 50.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, conducted between 7 November 2013 and 13 February 2014, 22% of Bolivians supported same-sex marriage, 67% were opposed.[45][46]

In May 2015, PlanetRomeo, an LGBT social network, published its first Gay Happiness Index (GHI). Gay men from over 120 countries were asked about how they feel about society’s view on homosexuality, how do they experience the way they are treated by other people and how satisfied are they with their lives. Bolivia was ranked 48th with a GHI score of 47.[47]

A poll conducted in June 2015 found that 74% of Bolivians did not support same-sex marriage.[48] However, the same poll found greater support for same-sex marriage among younger people and residents of La Paz.

According to a 2017 poll carried out by ILGA, 60% of Bolivians agreed that gay, lesbian and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as straight people, while 17% disagreed. Additionally, 64% agreed that they should be protected from workplace discrimination. 26% of Bolivians, however, said that people who are in same-sex relationships should be charged as criminals, while a plurality of 45% disagreed. As for transgender people, 64% agreed that they should have the same rights, 63% believed they should be protected from employment discrimination and 53% believed they should be allowed to change their legal gender.[49]

The 2017 AmericasBarometer showed that 35% of Bolivians supported same-sex marriage.[50]

Summary table
Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1832)[51]
Equal age of consent (Since 1832)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment (Since 2009)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services (Since 2009)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) (Since 2009)
Hate crime laws covering both sexual orientation and gender identity (Since 2010)
Same-sex marriage (Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage Since 2009)
Recognition of same-sex couples (e.g. civil unions) (Pending)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples
Adoption by single LGBT person
LGBT people allowed to serve in the military (Since 2015)
Right to change legal gender (Since 2016)
Access to IVF for lesbians
Conversion therapy banned on minors
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
MSMs allowed to donate blood (Since 2019)

See also

Bibliography
  • Hurtado, Edson (2014). Indígenas homosexuals – Un acercamiento a la cosmovisión sobre diversidades sexuales de siete pueblos originarios del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia (Moxeños, Afrobolivianos, Quechuas, Ayoreos, Guaraníes, Tacanas y Aymaras) (PDF) (in Spanish). Conexión Fondo de Emancipación. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2015.

Notes
  1. The official text of Article 14(II) in Spanish:[22]
    El Estado prohíbe y sanciona toda forma de discriminación fundada en razón de sexo, color, edad, orientación sexual, identidad de género, origen, cultura, nacionalidad, ciudadanía, idioma, credo religioso, ideología, filiación política o filosófica, estado civil, condición económica o social, tipo de ocupación, grado de instrucción, discapacidad, embarazo, u otras que tengan por objetivo o resultado anular o menoscabar el reconocimiento, goce o ejercicio, en condiciones de igualdad, de los derechos de toda persona.
  2. The official text of Article 281ter. in Spanish:[24]
    La persona que arbitrariamente e ilegalmente obstruya, restrinja, menoscabe, impida o anule el ejercicio de los derechos individuales y colectivos, por motivos de sexo, edad, género, orientación sexual e identidad de género, identidad cultural, filiación familiar, nacionalidad, ciudadanía, idioma, credo religioso, ideología, opinión política o filosófica, estado civil, condición económica o social, enfermedad, tipo de ocupación, grado de instrucción, capacidades diferentes o discapacidad física, intelectual o sensorial, estado de embarazo, procedencia regional, apariencia física y vestimenta, será sancionado con pena privativa de libertad de uno a cinco años.

References
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