Country Overview
Colombia
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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LGBTIQ people enjoy strong protection under the law; however, there are still barriers to full equality. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Colombia since 2011, and in 2016, Colombia’s Constitutional Court made it illegal to refuse marriage registration for same-sex couples. Since 2015, same-sex couples have been allowed to adopt, and the process for legal gender recognition has been simplified. Colombia has legal protections against discrimination and harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity; however, these legal protections have yet to translate into better investigation and sentencing of perpetrators of hate crimes. Public opinion and treatment of LGBTIQ people vary greatly across Colombia. The 2022 congressional election was a historic victory for representation as a record number of LGBT candidates won, increasing the number from two to seven. Additionally, in March 2022, the Colombian Constitutional Court recognized third-gender classifications for nonbinary individuals.
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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