#ayuquelen

Latin American Groups: Many Ideas, No Cash

VIENNA [August 14, 1989] — Latin American activists attending the International Lesbian and Gay Association 11th World Conference July 17–22 [1989] all told an identical story: They have hundreds of ideas for bringing gay liberation to their countries, but no money for only but the smallest of projects.

Gay and lesbian groups came to Vienna from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru. At the first Latin American workshop, they detailed the important undertakings that have been put on hold: newsletters, newspapers, hotlines, AIDS services, offjce space — even telephone calls and stamps to stay in touch with each other.

Jorge Romero Mendoza, from Guadalajara, Mexico's Homosexual Pride Liberation Group (GOHL), said his organization has yet to recover from a bomb which destroyed the facade of the GOHL community center last March. The bomb was most likely planted by homophobes who believe gays brought AIDS to Mexico, Romero said. Since the explosion, GOHL has been unable to pay its rent or phone bill, and the group's disco has closed.

Still, Romero said GOHL members are hopeful and are moving forward with plans to host ILGA's 1991 conference. "I think we can do it," he said. "The governor of the province promised his help, as well as the mayor."

Mexico City was represented by Carlos Hernandez of the group Calamo, which provides legal, psychological, cultural and medical support to the gay male population of the world's largest city.

Calamo, too, is broke, and has suspended plans to open "an alternative space," publish a magazine and add a "human rights defense wing" to the organization, according to Hernandez.

Colectivo Sol works on AIDS issues in Mexico City and was represented at the conference by Raphael Manrique-Soto.

"What we're doing now," Manrique-Soto said, "is putting emphasis in rescuing the positive side of sex for gay men, because we think the reaction against AIDS has replaced the whole idea of feeling guilty about sex. AIDS has created a climate where homosexuality is discussed in the media without negativeness for the first time," Hernandez said.

[...]

From Peru came MOHL, the Homosexual Pride Liberation Movement. Spokeswoman "Rebeca" told conferees that social pressure in Peru forces many gay men and lesbians into heterosexua1 marriages.

The gay movement has been disrupted since 1980 by a civil war that has taken 10,000 lives, Rebeca said, "and the sensationalism and disinformation of AIDS has cerated a huge panic so that gay and lesbian people have, for example, been expelled from hospitals."

[...]

Chile was represented by "Lilian" of the lesbian-feminist group Ayuguelen. She said there are no gay male activists in Chile because men are afraid to come out of the closet.

"We work underground," Lilian said[. ...] There is no public treatment available in Chile for persons with AIDS, according to Ayuquelen. "If they are among the few who have money, they go to a private hospital," Lilian said. "Otherwise, they go home."