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Ministerio de Justicia de El Salvador lanza políticas LGBTI

Activistas participan en la iniciativa gubernamental

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El Ministerio de Justicia y Seguridad Pública ha lanzado una campaña para sensibilizar a sus empleados sobre la comunidad LGBTI. (Foto de Washington Blade por Ernesto Valle)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — El 12 de noviembre se realizó el lanzamiento de la campaña #HagoLoJusto, un modelo de comunicación interna para la aplicación de la política del Ministerio de Justicia y Seguridad Pública (MJSP) en atención a la población LGBTI. Este esfuerzo se enmarca en el plan de implementación de la política y busca sensibilizar sobre la discriminación de las personas por su orientación sexual e identidad de género y dar a conocer dicha política LGBTI al personal del MJSP y sus dependencias.

#HagoLoJusto es un esfuerzo que el MJSP realiza con el apoyo de la Federación Salvadoreña LGBTI y el Proyecto Derechos y Dignidad, una campaña que aspira a la deconstrucción de preconceptos sobre las personas LGBTI. La mayoría de las actividades priorizan la generación de espacios de intercambio y aprendizaje con personas diversas, haciendo énfasis en que se trata de un tema de acceso a derechos humanos que deben ser garantizados por el MJSP y su personal.

“El lanzamiento de la Política de Atención a la Población LGBTI reafirma el compromiso del MJSP en velar por la atención integral de este importante sector de la sociedad,” dijo Eva Rodríguez, subdirectora del Proyecto Derechos y Dignidad.

“Esta campaña es una muestra que esta política está avanzando y representa una gran oportunidad para que el personal del Ministerio pueda brindar un servicio sin discriminación a la población LGBTI,” agregó la subdirectora en conferencia.

“En los últimos tres meses hemos sensibilizado a más de mil empleados y empeladas del Ministerio,” dijo Tatiana Herrera, representante de la Federación Salvadoreña LGBTI. “Seguiremos luchando por el amor, la paz y la justicia.”

La campaña tiene previsto la realización acciones disruptivas, desayunos conversatorios, cineforos, talleres de formación, presentaciones de teatro, un concurso de fotografía, difusión a través de redes sociales y piezas audiovisuales, entre otras. En algunas de estas actividades estarán actuando como piezas claves cuatro miembros de la Federación Salvadoreña LGBTI.

“Estas políticas son importantes porque por ejemplo yo no quisiera llegar a un lugar donde me están tratando mal, pero ahora hay una política que me respalda y el personal estará capacitado,” comenta al Washington Blade Aldo Peña, miembro de la Federación Salvadoreña LGBTI. “Desde el momento en que me vean y presente mi documento y hay una discordancia con mi nombre y mi identidad, si ellos tienen el conocimiento dirán que se trata de una persona trans.”

La campaña #HagoLoJusto tiene por objetivo sensibilizar, y que el personal de las diferentes instituciones de Ministerio puedan aprender todos los aspectos que contiene la Política del MJSP para la Atención a la Población LGBTI.

“Con el lanzamiento de esta campaña que nos va a permitir llegar a cada uno de las y los empleados de Ministerio, ordeno la aplicación de todos los componentes de la política del MJSP para la atención a la población LGBTI,” dijo Mauricio Ramírez Landaverde, ministro de Justicia y Seguridad Pública.

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Congress

Sens. Butler, Smith introduce Pride in Mental Health Act to aid at-risk LGBTQ youth

Bill is backed by Democrats in both chambers

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U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) speaks at the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference on Nov. 30, 2023. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

U.S. Sens. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced the Pride in Mental Health Act on Thursday, legislation that would strengthen resources in mental health and crisis intervention for at-risk LGBTQ youth.

“Accessing mental health care and support has become increasingly difficult in nearly every state in the country,” said Butler, who is the first Black LGBTQ senator. “Barriers get even more difficult if you are a young person who lacks a supportive community or is fearful of being outed, harassed, or threatened.”

“I am introducing the Pride in Mental Health Act to help equip LGBTQ+ youth with the resources to get the affirming and often life-saving care they need,” she said.

“Mental health care is health care,” said Smith. “And for some LGBTQ+ youth, receiving access to the mental health care they need can mean the difference between living in safety and dignity, and suffering alone through discrimination, bullying, and even violence.” 

The Minnesota senator added that data shows LGBTQ students are experiencing “an epidemic” of “anxiety, depression and other serious mental health conditions.”

For example, a 2023 study by The Trevor Project found that 54 percent of LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of depression, compared to 35 percent of their heterosexual counterparts.

Joining the senators as cosponsors are Democratic U.S. Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.), Bob Casey (Penn.), Peter Welch (Vt.), Alex Padilla (Calif.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Cory Booker (N.J.), and Tammy Baldwin (Wis.). Baldwin was the first LGBTQ woman elected to the House in 1999 and the first LGBTQ woman elected to the Senate in 2013.

Leading the House version of the bill are LGBTQ Democratic U.S. Reps. Sharice Davids (Kan.), Eric Sorensen (Ill.), and Ritchie Torres (N.Y.), along with 163 other House members.

Organizations that have backed the Pride in Mental Health Act include the Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Education Association (NEA), National Center for Transgender Equality, Seattle Indian Health Board, PFLAG National, The Trevor Project, American Psychological Association, Whitman-Walker Institute, InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Mental Health America, and Center for Law and Social Policy.

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District of Columbia

D.C. mayor honors 10th anniversary of Team Rayceen Productions

LGBTQ entertainment, advocacy organization praised for ‘vital work’

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Rayceen Pendarvis co-founded Team Rayceen Productions. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser today issued an official proclamation declaring Monday, March 18, 2024, as Team Rayceen Day in honor of the local LGBTQ entertainment and advocacy organization Team Rayceen Productions named after its co-founder Rayceen Pendarvis.

“Whereas Rayceen, along with Team Rayceen Productions co-founder, Zar, have spent 10 years advocating for the Black LGBTQI+ community using various forms including in-person events, social media, and YouTube,” the proclamation states.

The proclamation adds that through its YouTube Channel, Team Rayceen Productions created a platform for “Black LGBTQIA+ individuals to discuss various topics including spotlighting nonprofit organizations and small businesses, voter registration and participation, the state of LGBTQIA+ rights and resources in D.C, gender equality and equity, and the amplification of opportunities to bring the community together.”

It also praises Team Rayceen Productions for its partnership with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs in helping to produce “exciting events like the District of Pride talent showcase held each June and the iconic 17th Street High Heel Race celebrated in October.”

“Whereas I thank Team Rayceen Productions for its vital and necessary work and am #DCProud to wish you all the best as you continue to support Black LGBTQIA+ residents across all 8 Wards,” the proclamation continues.

“Now, therefore, I, the Mayor of Washington, D.C., do hereby proclaim March 18, 2024, as TEAM RAYCEEN DAY in Washington, D.C. and do commit this observance to all Washingtonians,” it concludes.

“We thank Mayor Bowser for this special proclamation, which highlights where it all began, with the Black LGBTQIA+ community of Washington, D.C,” Team Rayceen Productions says in a statement. “Starting with The Ask Rayceen Show, Reel Affirmation, and events with D.C. Public Library to Art All Night, Silver Pride by Whitman-Walker, and events with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, we are #dcproud of what we have accomplished in the Nation’s Capital,” the statement says. 

“For TEAM RAYCEEN DAY, we thank the diverse group of individuals who have made everything we have done possible by volunteering their time and talents over the past decade – as online co-hosts, event staff, performers, DJs, photographers, and more,” says the statement.

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U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court declines to hear case over drag show at Texas university

Students argue First Amendment protects performance

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The U.S. Supreme Court justices on June 30, 2022. ((Photo by Fred Schilling of the U.S. Supreme Court)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear a First Amendment case over a public university president’s refusal to allow an LGBTQ student group to host a drag show on campus.

The group’s application was denied without the justices providing their reasoning or issuing dissenting opinions, as is custom for such requests for emergency review.

When plaintiffs sought to organize the drag performance to raise money for suicide prevention in March 2023, West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler cancelled the event, citing the Bible and other religious texts.

The students sued, arguing the move constituted prior restraint and viewpoint-based discrimination, in violation of the First Amendment. Wendler had called drag shows “derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny,” adding that “a harmless drag show” was “not possible.”

The notoriously conservative Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who former President Donald Trump appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, ruled against the plaintiffs in September, writing that “it is not clearly established that all drag shows are inherently expressive.”

Kacsmaryk further argued that the High Court’s precedent-setting opinions protecting stage performances and establishing that “speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend” was inconsistent with constitutional interpretation based on “text, history and tradition.”

Plaintiffs appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is by far the most conservative of the nation’s 12 appellate circuit courts. They sought emergency review by the Supreme Court because the 5th Circuit refused to fast-track their case, so arguments were scheduled to begin after the date of their drag show.

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