Fundación Iguales

Fundación Iguales
Name	Fundación Iguales
Type	Nonprofit
Founded	2011
Headquarters	Santiago, Chile
Area served	Chile
Key people	Bárbara Figueroa, Pedro Lemebel
Focus	LGBT rights, civil rights, public policy

Fundación Iguales Fundación Iguales is a Chilean nonprofit organization founded in 2011 that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex rights. Based in Santiago, the organization has engaged in legislative campaigns, public education, strategic litigation, and coalition building with domestic and international actors. Over a decade, it has interfaced with political parties, courts, media outlets, and civil society networks across Latin America and Europe.

History

The organization emerged during a period of social mobilization after high-profile events such as the 2011 student protests in Chile and amid global movements including the 2010s marriage equality debates in Argentina, United States, and Spain. Founders included activists linked to groups like Movilh, cultural figures associated with Pedro Lemebel, and political organizers formerly connected to Concertación and Nueva Mayoría formations. Early milestones included strategic engagement with the Chilean Congress and legal challenges in the Supreme Court of Chile, alongside participation in international fora such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and collaborations with organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. As national debates on civil unions and marriage equality advanced, the foundation interacted with ministers from administrations of Michelle Bachelet and navigated opposition from conservative actors including members of Unión Demócrata Independiente and Partido Republicano.

Mission and Activities

Fundación Iguales states a mission to promote equality and non-discrimination through public policy, litigation, research, and cultural initiatives. It produces policy proposals presented to institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the National Congress of Chile, and municipal councils in Santiago and other regions. The foundation has organized conferences featuring scholars from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, activists from RedLacTrans, and international experts from ILGA and Open Society Foundations. Activities include filing amici curiae in cases before the Constitutional Court of Chile and coordinating campaigns with media partners like El Mercurio and La Tercera as well as cultural institutions such as the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos.

Campaigns and Advocacy

Major campaigns have targeted legal recognition measures, including civil union legislation debated in the Chilean Congress and the marriage equality bill enacted following deliberations influenced by the 2019–2020 Chilean protests. The foundation ran public awareness efforts using testimonials from public figures, collaborating with celebrities from TVN and artists linked to Viña del Mar International Song Festival and theatre practitioners associated with Teatro del Puente. Advocacy extended to anti-discrimination measures in workplaces and schools, engaging employers represented by groups like the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC) and education stakeholders from Universidad de Chile. The organization also campaigned internationally, contributing to shadow reports submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and interacting with delegations at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Organizational Structure

The foundation is governed by a board of directors and an executive team, with advisory councils comprising legal experts, scholars, and cultural figures. Board members have engaged with institutions such as the Santiago Metropolitan Council, the Bar Association of Chile, and academic departments from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Operational teams coordinate research units that have produced studies cited by legislators in the Chilean Senate and by judges in lower courts. Volunteers and interns often come from student organizations rooted in movements like the 2011 Chilean student protests and from youth wings of parties including Partido Socialista de Chile and Democracia Cristiana.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources have included private donations, grants from foundations such as the Open Society Foundations and regional funders in Latin America, and contracts for research with municipal governments in Valparaíso and Concepción. The foundation has partnered with national NGOs like Corporación Opción and international networks such as ILGA and Amnesty International. Collaborations with cultural institutions have included partnerships with Corporación Cultural de Las Condes and festival organizers from Santiago a Mil. It has also received support for projects from foundations tied to philanthropic initiatives in Europe and foundations operating in the United States.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the foundation with contributing to shifts in public discourse and influencing legislative outcomes around civil unions and anti-discrimination protections, citing engagements with the Chilean Congress, judicial rulings referencing expert briefs, and heightened visibility in national media like El Mercurio and La Nación (Chile). Criticism has come from conservative parties including Unión Demócrata Independiente and religious groups connected to the Catholic Church in Chile, which have contested its positions on family law and education policy. Some civil society peers, including activists from Movilh and other LGBT organizations, have debated strategic priorities and tactical approaches, prompting discussions within networks such as RedLacTrans and regional alliances represented at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Overall, the foundation remains a prominent actor in Chilean public life with ongoing influence and contested reception among political and social actors.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Chile