Many Guatemalans in the LGBTQ community face economic conditions that prevent them from enjoying equal rights.
It is interesting to note that before the Spanish arrived in the Americas, the Mayan people had fluid ideas of gender and sexuality. When the Spanish arrived, they brought strict social rules with them about gender. They discriminated against and punished people for being different. Many people are afraid to speak out about being LGBTQ because they fear that there will be rumors and judgements from their neighbors. For example, one friend I met at the parade said that some of his family members don't like that he is gay.
Politicians are not doing a great job in helping the LGBTQ community in Guatemala. Most politicians support the strict ideas about gender. They may not realize that their attitudes are unhelpful to the LGBTQ community. Even the yearly Pride Parade is a challenge because the police in Guatemala have not been cooperating with the LGBTQ organizers.
But the LGBTQ community is strong, and there are many organizations and foreign countries that are helping the LGBTQ cause. The United States Embassy participated in the parade this year. So did the embassies of other countries, including the European Union. These foreigners came to the parade to show their solidarity with the LGBTQ community!
One positive takeaway is that there are organizations and museums that are helping to address hate and discrimination in Guatemala. The museum, Casa de la Memoria (House of memory), is doing a project where young people discuss the disagreements about sexuality in society. They try to think of strategies to help Guatemalans in their own towns, and in the law.
