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By Airam Fernández, from Santiago, Chile.

“Do you know your daughter’s favorite color? Orange! And the music she enjoys most? Hip-hop! And her sexual orientation?” These are the questions that open the first advertisement in the educational campaign by Fundación Iguales, which has been running on monitors and screens throughout the Santiago Metro network since October 29th. This campaign has sparked a counter-campaign by six right-wing members of parliament who want to censor it.

With the hashtag #NoMasIGEnElMetro (No More IG on the Metro), a campaign against the video began on Twitter and Instagram as soon as the first ad aired—the second one was released this week. But six right-wing members of parliament went further: they requested an investigation into the Iguales ads. The National Renewal party members of parliament Camila Flores, Francisco Eguiguren, Catalina del Real, René García, Harry Jürgensen, and Leonidas Romero sent their request in a letter to the President of the Republic, the Comptroller General's Office, and the Santiago Metro.

The document also requests that "the Chamber of Deputies be investigated and informed about the use of public funds by Metro SA, regarding various educational campaigns carried out in the area of ​​Sexual Orientation and Diversity."

“They try to impose a single vision, responding to hatred.”

“We find this reaction completely disproportionate. To begin with, the Metro has already stated that it hasn't contributed any money, only its willingness. This project was entirely funded by Iguales. But even if that were the case, what would be the problem? The State is responsible for safeguarding the human rights of the people who live in this country, so talking about human rights in public spaces is fundamental; there's nothing wrong with that,” Isabel Amor, the foundation's education director and the person responsible for the production of this and other pieces that have not yet been unveiled, told Presentes.

Amor explained that in order to reach the screens of the Metro, they followed the regular protocol that any institution wishing to make campaigns visible must follow, as long as they are framed within respect and comply with certain parameters, such as, for example, that the videos do not have more than 30 seconds in duration.

“The campaign arose from the hundreds of requests we receive from mothers and fathers to the foundation, regarding the need to know more about sexual orientation. Based on these concerns, we conducted a study, created the visual materials, and decided to make a formal request to Metro. We sent the material, and it was approved in three weeks,” said the spokesperson for Iguales.

Amor believes the reaction of these six deputies is part of a deliberate attempt at sabotage: “They are employing a divisive tactic. They are trying to impose a single vision, responding to the hatred of those who have complained on social media, who are always the same people who oppose our rights. While their actions fall within their powers as members of parliament, they will only succeed in wasting the Comptroller General's time with this absurd investigation. And that time is indeed being paid for with public funds,” he stated.

Presentes tried to contact the members of parliament. Only one responded to the messages and later, in a phone call, admitted that he hadn't actually read the entire document: “This isn't my project. I only supported a motion put forward by Representative Camila Flores. What I do know is that it's an oversight matter,” he said, while asking not to be identified.

But in the end, the document concludes with a classic argument used by opponents of any pro-LGBTI initiative, which in Chile they insist on labeling as “gender ideology.” “As members of parliament, we believe that this type of propaganda weakens the State’s duty to strengthen the fundamental nucleus of society, which is the family,” the document states. When asked about it, the congressman tried to excuse himself: “The truth is, I don’t know. I need to find out a little more. I’m more involved in this because of the issue of the use of public funds.”

“Metro seeks to contribute to the promotion of people's rights”

Two other videos and five infographics complete this campaign, which Iguales will be releasing on its social media channels in the coming weeks. The debut video is the only one that will be shown on screens in subway platforms and stations and will remain so until the end of November, the institution said.

In a statement, Louis de Grange, president of Metro de Santiago, indicated that the support offered to Iguales through the dissemination of this campaign is a way of addressing a social issue. “With this type of initiative, Metro seeks to contribute to the promotion of human rights, foster inclusion, respect for diversity, and contribute to a society free from discrimination,” said de Grange, echoing the message that closes the animation: “Although many try to confuse us, sexual orientation is not an invention, and no one can discriminate against us because of it.”

A controversy that has divided society: “Chile has changed. Open your eyes.”

It's Thursday, just after 7:30 a.m. A woman waits for a train at Tobalaba station, watching one of the monitors. After a brief report with the first news of the day ends, the animated short "Iguales" (Equals) begins to play. This short is designed, among other things, for mothers and fathers, to explain what sexual orientation is and to show them the LGBTI statistics in the country: that 14% of young people do not identify as heterosexual and that 10% of adults are lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Upon seeing that last figure, Sepúlveda turns his back on the screen. He decides not to look anymore. He says he finds it "atrocious," and that it's not because he's 62 years old. "I find it wrong. They can't show this like that. And I can't understand how they intend to normalize it. It's an illness," he adds.

A young woman standing next to her listens and interrupts her complaints, trying to refute her. “Homosexuality isn’t an illness. Why don’t you read up and learn something? Chile has changed. Open your eyes,” she urges. And then the train arrives.