These are the 15 good news stories we shared in 2017 in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Paraguay. In Honduras, our coverage began in August, and to date, we haven't published any good news stories for the LGBTIQ+ community in that country. [Click the titles to read and expand each story]

1. The Peruvian Judiciary recognized the first gay marriage

#PERU In January, the Judiciary ordered the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec) to recognize the marriage of Peruvian economist Óscar Ugarteche and Mexican Fidel Aroche. A milestone in Peruvian society.

2. They entered the Judiciary to defend their trans colleagues

#PARAGUAY The National System of Judicial Facilitators (SNFJ) It seeks to improve access to justice for vulnerable populations: people living in poverty, the elderly, children, people with disabilities, or indigenous people.

3. A home to provide shelter and support to LGBTI people

#ARGENTINA Since March, Patricia Rasmussen, a home for LGBTI people, has been operating in Tandil, Buenos Aires province. It's a self-managed project to support young people expelled by their families or arriving from other cities, as well as adults who are alone.

4. Laura Moyano Trans Center: “A cry for equality in the face of silence”

#ARGENTINA The Trans Sociocultural Center “Laura Moyano” opened its doors on March 31 in the city of Córdoba, to fight against social transvesticide.

5. Schools were ordered to respect trans identities: “A milestone in school coexistence” #CHILE In May, the Chilean Ministry of Education presented a series of documents that require schools to implement measures to include, recognize and respect LGBTI identities, through regulations and proposed activities.

6. Salta: They created a trans services cooperative to live off their work

#ARGENTINA In June, the organizations Mujeres Trans Argentina and Varones Trans Argentina launched a Trans Self-Management Cooperative in Salta.

 

 7. The struggle of a lesbian couple who managed to register their baby as the child of two mothers

#ARGENTINA In July, Agustina Brunetto and Valeria Tavecchio, a lesbian couple living in Santa Elena, Entre Ríos, managed to register their baby in the civil registry as the child of both of them.

8. CHILE: President Bachelet signed the Equal Marriage Bill

#CHILE In August, the country took a historic step towards the full recognition of rights: President Michelle Bachelet signed the Equal Marriage Bill.

9. The Women's Parliament now has its first trans member

#ARGENTINA In August, Paula Arraigada became the first trans woman to join the Women's Parliament of the Buenos Aires Legislature.

10. Shelter, health and dignity for Noemí: the court ruled in favor of a trans woman

#ARGENTINA In September, a judge ordered the Buenos Aires government to provide Noemí with "accommodation that guarantees her constitutional rights to housing, health and dignity."

11.  This is how the first Trans House in Peru works

#PERU: In September, the Trans Zuleymi house opened its doors in Lima: a transit center where trans people experiencing homelessness, migrants, or victims of violence can find guidance, information, and a shoulder to lean on. 

12.  She fought for her license and created a national network of trans teachers

#ARGENTINA In October, Quimey Ramos, the trans teacher who made headlines for transitioning mid-school year, gave impetus to a national network of trans teachers.

13. Four Chilean universities recognize the chosen name of transgender students

#CHILE In November, and although the country does not have a Gender Identity Law, four universities have already implemented policies to recognize the social name of trans students: the University of Chile, the University of Santiago, the Diego Portales University and the Academic University of Christian Humanism.

14.   “My name is Leandra Levine and I am the first transgender graduate of Pellegrini.” 

#ARGENTINA In December, Leandra Levine received her degree as a graduate of the Carlos Pellegrini Higher School of Commerce, a secondary school in the City of Buenos Aires.  

 

15.  #TransEmploymentQuota

In 2017, the transgender employment quota remained unregulated in the province of Buenos Aires, but it made headlines in various parts of Argentina. Hopefully, in 2018, inclusion will deepen and expand. And that one day it will cease to be just good news and become a respected right.

The University of Mar del Plata has already hired its first female employees through the #TransWorkQuota

The transgender employment quota incorporated the first transgender worker in the country in Venado Tuerto

Transgender employment quota: Rosario selected five workers

The transgender employment quota was approved in Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego

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