LGBTI community protests in Caracas to demand recognition of their rights

Caracas (EFE).- Hundreds of Venezuelans rallied on Saturday in Caracas to demand legal recognition for LGBTI rights, including marriage equality, protection for same-sex families, and penalties for discrimination against the community, while also expressing solidarity with those affected by June’s twin earthquakes.

«Today we decided to take to the streets of Caracas with a dual purpose: first, to stand in solidarity with all the victims affected by the double earthquake, and second, to raise our flags in struggle,» lawyer and activist Richell Briceño told EFE from Chacaíto in eastern Caracas.

The demonstration, originally scheduled for June, was postponed due to the twin earthquakes that devastated northern Venezuela, particularly the coastal state of La Guaira.

The activist noted that earlier this week they approached the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) in central Caracas to demand rulings on cases involving the community that have been pending for over a decade. This comes after acting President Delcy Rodríguez requested the Constitutional Chamber in May to establish a doctrine on diversity.

The LGBTI community is calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage, legal protections for same-sex families, anti-discrimination laws, and an end to the criminalization of officers of «diverse sexual orientation» within the Armed Forces.

Paola Berra, 20, told EFE she joined the rally to help build a «healthier» society regarding LGBTI rights, describing Venezuela as «lagging far behind» and «deeply homophobic.»

«We are falling behind when it comes to supporting our LGBTI community, and that has to change, it’s already 2026,» she said.

Caracas delegate ombudsman Bruno Gallo addressed the crowd, acknowledging that the country remains in debt to «those who are different» and that change must be demanded.

«All of us holding public responsibilities have a duty to support you. The doors of the Ombudsman’s Office are open to receive petitions and demand the expansion of rights that are already enshrined,» he added.

In Venezuela, homosexuals are prohibited from donating blood, transgender individuals are forced to use legal names that do not align with their gender identity, and same-sex couples are denied the right to marry, among other restrictions.

Last May, five police officers were arrested in Venezuela after human rights organizations reported an illegal raid, extortion, and the detention of at least 33 men at an LGBTI venue in Lara state, prompting the Attorney General’s Office to launch an investigation.

The Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTIQ+ Violence, Caleidoscopio Humano, and Movimiento Somos denounced the incident, stating that plainclothes officers accused victims of “committing the crime of homosexuality,” according to survivor testimonies. EFE

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