The LGBTQ community in Guatemala want to be treated as equal to anyone else in society. They also want the government to treat them equally under the law. They want discrimination to be made illegal. Discrimination is a problem in Guatemala because there are many people who don't accept the LGBTQ community. Sometimes this discrimination comes from traditions and religions that are very strict about how people should live. But discrimination also comes from the government and politicians. The laws do not always protect LGBTQ rights. I think this will change one day.
I asked many LGBTQ members about the challenges they face. Many members pointed out that the politicians are not doing a good job of promoting equal rights for LGBTQ people. My friend Maria participates in research and workshops with the LGBTQ community. There, people learn about the difficult experiences of discrimination and different forms of sexuality. My friend Juan told me that one of the biggest problems Guatemalans face is inadequate education. Men are sometimes taught to be very "manly" or "macho." But the pressure to be "macho" causes some men to discriminate against anyone who is not macho!
The LGBTQ community's main need is to have equal rights under the law, and to be treated as equal. For example, in legal practices, police and judges do not recognize transgender people's identity. Instead they use one biological sex, male or female, to classify the person. The law does not support the identity the person prefers. Related to the lack of sufficient education is the problem of poverty.
