- The March of Sexual and Gender Diversities took place in La Paz on Saturday September 26, three months later than planned.
- It was postponed from June 28 due to the political crisis the country was experiencing.
- According to the Ombudsman’s Office, 53% of LGTBI people in Bolivia have suffered discrimination.
The LGTBI march in Bolivia finally took to the streets. Hundreds of people marched on Saturday, September 26, along the Prado in La Paz during the March of Sexual and Gender Diversities. It had been postponed from June 28 due to the political crisis and protests against President Rodrigo Paz. Trans people were the main protagonists.
Why was the march held in September?
The march was postponed because, at the end of June, Bolivia was experiencing a political crisis with protests against President Rodrigo Paz. Instead of coinciding with International Pride Day, the community took to the streets three months later, with the support of the La Paz City Council.
It was organized, among other entities, by the Civic Council of Sexual and Gender Diversities of the Municipality of La Paz, with the slogan “Diversity does not ask for permission, it exists, resists, and transforms”. At least four organizations participated. The collective’s advocacy calendar in Bolivia also includes May 17, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
“We do not ask for inclusion, but for a revolution”
The phrase that summarizes the day is from Ivana Castedo, a representative of the trans community: “What we ask for is not inclusion, but a revolution”. Trans people demanded justice for murdered trans women and more inclusion in education, religious spaces, and healthcare.
According to the Ombudsman’s Office, 53% of LGTBI people in Bolivia have suffered discrimination. The most affected are non-binary trans people, trans women, and trans men.
Small victories
Among those who marched were Fabiana Bánzer and Scarlett Rocha, who were the first lesbians to marry in Bolivia. They took almost four years to be able to legally marry. “Bolivia is still a complex country, but we have found allies,” Rocha explained.
Raquel Torrez, from the LGTBI community, summarized it this way: “We have reasons to rise and give a shout for freedom”. The day mixed advocacy and popular culture, with morenada dances, a Bolivian folk dance.
What does the LGTBI collective demand in Bolivia?
The Bolivian LGTBI collective demands justice for murdered trans women, an end to discrimination, and real inclusion in education, healthcare, and religious spaces. It also calls for more visibility in society. These demands are supported by an official statistic: according to the Ombudsman’s Office, more than half of LGTBI people in the country, 53%, have suffered discrimination.
Frequently asked questions
When was the LGTBI march in Bolivia?
On Saturday, September 26, 2026, in La Paz.
Why was it not held on June 28?
It was postponed due to the political crisis and protests against President Rodrigo Paz.
How much discrimination does the collective suffer in Bolivia?
53% of LGTBI people have suffered discrimination, according to the Ombudsman’s Office.
