Argentina: Treatment of homosexuals in Córdoba; existence of homosexual bars or clubs; reports of police harassment of patrons of such establishments; existence of a book store catering to homosexuals known as "Todo Libro" (1999 - April 2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 April 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG36943.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Treatment of homosexuals in Córdoba; existence of homosexual bars or clubs; reports of police harassment of patrons of such establishments; existence of a book store catering to homosexuals known as "Todo Libro" (1999 - April 2001), 27 April 2001, ARG36943.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be0b20.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In correspondence dated 24 April 2001, a representative of the Córdoba chapter of Written on the Body (Escrita en el Cuerpo), a non-governmental organization working with members of sexual minority communities, provided the following information concerning the situation and treatment of homosexuals and lesbians in Córdoba.
Outside of the provincial capital, homosexuals and lesbians face many of the same difficulties experienced by their counterparts living in rural areas elsewhere in the country. Difficulties cited by the representative include the necessity of hiding one's sexual orientation; strong societal and family disapproval, isolation, loneliness and violence. In the City of Córdoba, the situation of homosexuals and lesbians is closely related to their socio-economic standing, with individuals from a working class background more likely to find themselves in a vulnerable situation. While residents of the City of Córdoba are not characterized by "active" homophobia (reacción activa anti-homosexual), the population is socially conservative, prompting many homosexuals and lesbians to hide their sexual orientation from employers and family members.
According to the representative, police officers in Córdoba "frequently" raid homosexual bars and clubs. During these operations, officers inspect identity documents and search patrons, and "in some cases" carry out strip searches or robberies. When homosexuals, lesbians and transgendered (transgenéricas) individuals attempt to lodge a complaint with the police, they are commonly faced with indifference, abuse or insults. Lesbians and transgendered individuals have also been subjected to police harassment while frequenting "cruising areas" (lugares de encuentro).
Following the death of a transvestite in police custody in February 2000 (Escrita en el Cuerpo 24 Apr. 2001; Human Rights Watch 2001), the Córdoba provincial government established a policy to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and sexual identity, and created a secretariat responsible for sexual minority issues (Escrita en el Cuerpo 24 Apr. 2001). However, the representative claimed that the existence of the secretariat has not led to any perceptible change in the treatment of homosexuals, lesbians or transvestites in Córdoba (ibid.).
No information corroborating the representative's assessment of the situation and treatment of homosexuals and lesbians in Córdoba could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, according to GayExplorer, a travel Website catering to homosexual tourists,
The country's tolerance toward homosexuality has developed substantially over a short timeframe. Since 1997, the Argentine Congress has mediated legislation to include gay couples in receiving social security benefits. Many consider this so-called tolerance as hypocritical. In Argentina the stigma of a male homosexual being a very effeminate man, unhappy with his sex, is still the norm.
As in many Latin American countries, ... gay men are portrayed as foolish, emasculated and unhappy in the media. An alternative view is rarely if ever offered. Equality has been the top priority for the many gay organizations that have sprung up since the development of democracy, and the horrors of the "dirty war." In the last two decades, the authorities have come to respect the rights of gay men and women to mingle in their own locations (n.d.).
Members of sexual minority communities living in Córdoba are served by several organizations and businesses. Community groups include the Association Against Homosexual Discrimination (Asociación contra la Discriminación Homosexual), Written on the Body (Escrita en el Cuerpo) and Las Iguanas Lesbian Group (Grupo Lésbico Las Iguanas) (Guía Gay de Argentina n.d.). Homosexual bars include Beep, located at Sucre 176, Catalina, at Tucumán 347, and Eclipse, at Guzmán 1029 (SIGLA 2001; Conexión Gay Córdoba 2001; Guía Gay de Argentina n.d). Discotheques catering to a homosexual clientele include La Piaf, located at Obispo Ceballos 45, Planta Baja, at San Martín 666, and Hangar 18, at Las Heras 116 (ibid.; SIGLA 2001; Connexión Gay Córdoba 2001). According to a report published by Gay.Com Latino, a Website providing news and information to Argentinean homosexuals, Hangar 18 is considered by many to be the best discotheque in the interior of the country (2000).
Gay Connection Córdoba (Connexión Gay Córdoba), a Website, provides information on cruising areas frequented by homosexuals (2001). These include Sarmiento and Las Heras Parks, the bus terminal, the Garden and Nuevo Centro Shopping Centres, the Surquía River Promenade, and "The 42" (La 42), a zone comprised of Illia, Buenos Aires, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Rosario de Santa Fé, Rivadavia, Omos, Alvear and Ituzaingó Streets (ibid.). Both "The 42" and the Surquía River Promenade are identified as areas which are often visited by police (ibid.).
Two Córdoba-area book stores are known as "Todo Libro" (Portal de la Educación de Córdoba 2001). The first is located at Dean Funes 342, and the second at General Paz 83 (ibid.). No information on whether these establishments cater to homosexual clients could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Conexión Gay Córdoba. 2001. "Ciudad."
Escrita en el Cuerpo, Córdoba. 24 April 2001. Correspondence from representative.
Gay.Com Latino. 2000. Alejandro Vittar. "De corazón."
GayExplorer. n.d. "Country Information for Argentina."
Guía Gay de Argentina. n.d. "Córdoba Gay."
Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2000. Annual Report 2001.
Portal de la Educación de Córdoba. 2001. "Librerías de Córdoba."
Sociedad de Integración Gay Lésbica Argentina (SIGLA). 2001. "Puntos de encuentro."
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact two oral sources.
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International.
Clarín [Buenos Aires]. 1999-2001.
Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA)
Grupo Nexo.
Instituto Nacional contra la Discriminación, la Xenofobia y el Racismo (INADI)
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)
La Nación [Buenos Aires]. 1999-2001.
PlanetOut.
Sociedad de Integración Gay Lésbica Argentina (SIGLA)
Wockner News. 1997-2001.
