Bogotá, August 16, 2005

Updates from a progressive and democratic party in Colombia

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender in the Independent Democratic Pole Party (PDI, initials in Spanish)

A lesbian an two homosexuals at the National PDI Leadership

The Independent Democratic Pole, a new leftist political party in Colombia, held its congress in Bogotá from June 2-4, 2005. During this electoral congress, Afro descendant women, indigenous, homosexuals and lesbians, were able to gain seats in the party.

More than 1,500 people who were voted in attended the congress and minorities were taken into consideration within these number.

Proposal by lesbian and gays at the congress

Lesbians and gays were present during the congress, representing the Bogotá and Antioquia areas.

Representatives form Bogota , Manuel Gaviria, Sandra Montealegre, Oscar Osorio, Luis Carlos Alzate, David Talero, Juan Sebastián Romero and Germán Humberto Rincón Perfetti, distributed a magenta colored bulletin and presented their three proposals.

First place is solidarity, not seen only as charity or imposition, but as a legitimate act of need, a right. The second proposal was to

involve the complexity of a diversesociety that can't be confronted from bipolar models or logical dichotomies. And the third component from the magenta bulletin was the need to create an inclusive party that includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues in its agenda as well as include these in its speeches and statues.

Antioquia representatives, Robinson Sánchez, Juan Bernardo Rosado and David Ramírez, proposed continuing the fight against homophobia, an issue they designated as a violation of human rights.

They touched on issues like hearing crimes and the same sex couples project that serves as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender flag in the Independent Democratic Pole Party, They asked for this not to become the party's central theme and to also focus on supporting other ways of recognizing.

The 30 20 10 as a formula for strength

Achieving unity among women, youth, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender groups, the first PDI Congress, it was necessary to strongly defend the quota agreement in an Affirmative Action that would reflect the party's representatives: 30% women, 20% youth and 10% to those called “population groups”, made up by Afro descendants, indigenous and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender.

The inclusion balance of population groups and especially those related with non-majority sexual orientation was to place the issue with the 1,500 leaders of the PDI from all regions. The effect was seen in those from far regions who knew the term LGBT and placed it in their speeches to claim our inclusion in the platform.

The people elected by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sector to act in the PDI national directory are a lesbian, Sandra Montealegre, and two homosexuals, Robinson Sanchez and Juan Sebastian Romero.

Representation of this population group in the congress went from 0% to 6% and close to 2% of the party's leadership. Alliances made with women and youth groups as well as Afro Colombians, are an indicator of the political agenda not only of this particular party, but to improve participation in places like political parties and political activities.

Curious facts

Indigenous representative, Rojas Birry, opted to lose two groups for his indigenous population before accepting five groups for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender. And although the patriarch was present at the time of deciding the quotas, resistance from women, youth, lesbians and gays, was able to question the process and maintain the quota rule at a percentage that still remains an achievement. In addition, poor taste jokes made by Senator Dusan relating to homosexuals, were heard during the event.

This is the first time that a party includes minimum quotas for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders for the National Leadership March in Bogotá.

After this historical political process took place, members of the “rose pole” were present at the gay pride march that took place on July 3 rd in Bogotá.