Traslated by Andrés Martínez Forero
In the framework of the commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá organized the International Meeting of Experiences in Social Services and LGBTI Public Policies, which took place on Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16, 2025, at the CEFE Chapinero (Happiness Center), in northern Bogotá.
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This space for knowledge exchange and dialogue brought together government representatives from across Latin America to share implementation progress, challenges, and success stories from Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, Río de Janeiro, and Mexico City. Colombian cities included Barranquilla, Medellín, Cali, and host city Bogotá.
A cultural highlight of the event was the exhibition “Miradas Diversas: Body, Art, and Memory,” highlighting artistic works from Bogotá’s LGBTI community centers. Additionally, on Thursday the 15, the Bogotá Youth Philharmonic Orchestra performed a special concert.
Bogotá: Capital of diversity and a regional benchmark for LGBTI rights!
Since the launch of its LGBTI Public Policy “Se Puede Ser” (“You Can Be”) in 2009, Bogotá has developed a pioneering model in Latin America rooted in human rights, gender, and intersectional approaches. Thanks to this policy, Bogotá has achieved the following:
- Established specialized teams across all city agencies. Over 120 dedicated professionals operate LGBTI social services—Colombia’s largest team—coordinated by the Sub-directorate for LGBTI Affairs at the Secretariat of Social Integration of Bogotá.
- Five operational LGBTI Community Centers providing safe spaces for comprehensive care, psychosocial support, legal and social counseling, and community empowerment for LGBTI individuals, their families, and support networks.
- Tailored services for trans individuals, such as “Chuchú de la Cédula”, a program supporting trans and non-binary people in updating their legal ID. To date, 452 new IDs have been issued (258 for trans women, 120 for trans men, and 74 for non-binary individuals).
- Additional services include the Anti-Discrimination Unit (offering legal-social advice and interagency support), the Línea Diversa hotline (for information and referrals), and collaborations with other city departments like flexible high school programs (with the Secretariat of Education of Bogotá), community gardens (with the Bogotá Botanical Garden), and reading rooms (with the Bogotá Public Library Network).
- Advanced implementation of inclusive services across city public sectors such as Education, Health, Urban Planning, Culture, and Public Administration.
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Bogotá beats at the heart of LGBTI policymaking in Latin America—every service, every public policy, every personal story is a heartbeat of diversity.
“Weaving the future with pride” is the theme driving Bogotá’s regional leadership in inclusion, equity, and human rights for the LGBTI community—showcasing that when the state embraces the diverse realities of its citizens, it builds a fairer, more inclusive, and vibrant society.
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*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
