Health

Protecting the rights of lesbians, bi women and trans people in Peru

20.02.2020

By Alexandra Hernández

‘It seems that the experiences of bi and trans women in Peru are too complex, or too dynamic, to fit into traditional narratives about women’s lives.’

An interview with Alexandra Hernández, Más Igualdad Perú, Peru.

What is life like for lesbian, bi and trans (LBT+) people in Peru?

LBT+ people often do not have a voice within Peru’s queer community. Powerful positions in society and politics are mostly held by cisgender gay men, who receive more financial support, and more attention in research and studies, than LBT+ communities.

Thanks to the feminist movement, we have more of a platform than we used to, so we can speak about some of our more urgent needs. However, we are still struggling to create our own space and our own platform. As queer, trans and non-binary people, we need a space where we can talk openly and truthfully about our own experiences, and we need to amplify the voices of indigenous, poor and trans people of colour in particular.

What kind of changes do you want to see for LBT+ people in Peru?

I hope that people who have been ignored in the past will be heard, and their experiences will be understood by the wider queer community. Currently, we see the lesbian and feminist movements in Peru excluding trans and bi women and their stories – it seems that our experiences are too complex, or too dynamic, to fit into their narratives about women’s lives.

We also need to take a more inclusive approach when we discuss oppression, taking into account how things like gender, race, class, and disability affect our experiences. I hope we can recognise where we come from and behave considerately towards other marginalised people within our queer and Latinx community.

How did you find meeting the other network partners?

I loved it from the first minute. I could not help but feel humbled and grateful to be surrounded by smart, kind, talented and amazing activists from all over the world.

I tried to learn from every experience I heard, and I built strong connections with some of the people I met. I learned so much – not only about their lives and struggles, but also about myself and how I can be a better activist and ally in my own community.

Stonewall is giving me the network and the resources I need to achieve something meaningful, not just as an individual but as part of a group of likeminded people.

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Health

Protecting the rights of lesbians, bi women and trans people in Peru

By Alexandra Hernández

‘It seems that the experiences of bi and trans women in Peru are too complex, or too dynamic, to fit into traditional narratives about women’s lives.’

What is life like for lesbian, bi and trans (LBT+) people in Peru?

What kind of changes do you want to see for LBT+ people in Peru?

How did you find meeting the other network partners?

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