Country Overview
Guatemala
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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In Guatemala, same-sex sexual activity is legal, but LGBTIQ people continue to face social and legal challenges. Transgender people cannot change their legal gender markers, and there have been reports of police surveillance, abuse and murder of trans people. Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sexual characteristics remains legal, making LGBTIQ people particularly vulnerable to discrimination, violence and killings. LGBTIQ people have faced increasing legal attacks in recent years. In 2022, Congress approved the “Life and Family Protection Law” that would have outlawed same-sex marriage and teaching about LGBTIQ people in schools, although the President announced he would veto it. Members of Congress have also advanced a bill that would ban educational material about transgender identity to protect children from “gender identity disorders.”
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.
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In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
Americas
Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
Pacific
Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
Global
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Human Rights Research
Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.
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