LGBT Rights in Chile - Discrimination Protections

Discrimination Protections

There is no anti-discrimination law, however a bill to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been debated since 1998. LGBT and minority groups are working to add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender” in Chile’s Constitution to the civil rights and protection clause. Details of a new draft of the law were made public at the Forum on Same-Sex Civil Unions in Chile, held at the Diego Portales University, in May 2008.

Activists believe that conservative attitudes are changing, finding greater public tolerance as Chile's Congress debates striking "offenses to morals and good customs" clauses "that police have used to harass gays, even for behavior such as holding hands in public".