LGBTQ Delegation to Honduras, Send me!

In November 2013 I will be part of an LGBTQ centered delegation to Honduras. Entitled "Honduras Equality Delegation," our travel to Honduras includes observing the first democratic election since the 2009 coup of Manuel Zelaya, and the meeting with representatives of the LGBTQ movement and feminist movement in Honduras. As you may know, queer activists (two transgendered women) were some of the first killed by politically motivated murderers in the post-coup era. Over 70 queer activists have been murdered since 2009 and numerous attacked, particularly because LGBTQ activists have thrown their lot behind the broad left coalition hoping to overturn the post-coup government of Porfirio Lobo Sosa.



Thus, it is crucial for international observers to be present during the elections, to observe the proceedings, and the bring attention to the struggles of a rising "movement for sexual diversity." This movement seeks empowerment for LGBTQ peoples and an end to the violence.


The United States has had a unique role in propagating violence in Honduras. During the 1970s and 80s, as part of President Reagan's campaign against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, Honduras became the base of operations for the Contras and for the U.S. training and arming of these mercenary "guerrillas." Honduran society thus became excessively militarized. Militarization of Honduran society continues today under the aegis of the drug war and through police training programs the United States refuses to defund. Being part of this delegation will give me the opportunity to highlight the egregious consequences of this extensive U.S. interventionism in the region.