El Salvador

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

6.4 million

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

The state of LGBT rights in El Salvador is contradictory; the country’s constitution protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation andgender identity in the public sector, but same-sex marriage and adoption are unequivocally banned (ILGA World Report, 2019). The country has made some progress, but the Roman Catholic majority listens when their church publicly condemns same-sex acts (Renteria, 2017). As of 2013, 62% of Salvadorians believed that society should not accept homosexuality (Pew Research Center, 2013). El Salvador’s “machismo” culture also contributes to these attitudes, as it emphasizes male toughness and heterosexuality (Gómez, 2016). Gang violence in the country disproportionately targets LGBT people, especially transgender women (Renteria, 2017). The country’s MSM and transgender community also face HIV/AIDS at “epidemic levels” (Sexual Diversity in El Salvador, 2012). El Salvador’s LGBT population has built strong communities—organizations such as Entre Amigos and Fraternidad Gay Sin Fronteras work to support LGBT populations in El Salvador. (Gómez, 2016). San Salvador, the nation’s capital, is home to organizations and clubs such as Oráculos, spaces that are dedicated to the city’s LGBT community (Gómez, 2016).

El Salvador's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION

Marriage for Same-Sex Couples	No
Civil Unions	No
Joint Adoption	No
Second Parent Adoption	No

PROTECTION

Employment Nondiscrimination Laws	No
Broad Protections	No
Criminalization of Violence	Yes
Ban of Conversion Therapy	No

CRIMINALIZATION

Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?	Yes
Gender	Does Not Apply
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)	Does Not Apply

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

(2012). Sexual Diversity in El Salvador. International Human Rights Law Clinic, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. https://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/IHRLC/LGBT_Report_English_Final_120705.pdf

Blondeel, Karen, et al. (2016). Evidence and Knowledge Gaps on the Disease Burden in Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Review of Systematic Reviews.International Journal for Equity in Health, 15(16). Gale Academic OneFile, https://link-gale-com.proxy.lib.duke.edu/apps/doc/A447599357/AONE?u=duke_perkins&sid=AONE&xid=77f8ef3b.

DeBernardo, Francis. (2013). LGBTAdvocates Find Solidarity at El Salvador Gathering.National Catholic Reporter, 49(14). https://go-gale-com.proxy.lib.duke.edu/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&u=duke_perkins&id=GALE%7CA329902437&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon

Doetsch-Kidder, Sharon. “My Story Is Really Not Mine”: an interview with Latina trans activist Ruby Bracamonte.Feminist Studies, 37(2). Gale General OneFile, https://link-gale-com.proxy.lib.duke.edu/apps/doc/A269531971/ITOF?u=duke_perkins&sid=ITOF&xid=67d6f55c.

Gómez, Amaral Palevi. (2016). Travestis, Marimachas, and Maricones: The Way of the Rainbow in El Salvador. Revista Punto Género, 6. DOI:10.5354/0719-0417.2016.42918.

Gómez Arévalo, Amaral Palevi. (2017). Between a Rock anda Hard Place: Forced Mobility of LGBT Salvadorean People. Migrações Internacionais Contemporâneas. DOI: 10.5433/2176-6665.2017.1v22n1p130

Renteria, Nelson. (2017). ‘Am I Next?’: Killings in El Salvador Leave Transgender People in Fear. Thomas Reuters Foundation. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-el-salvador-lgbt-violence-idUSKBN16Z1QR

World Bank. (2018). El Salvador. Data. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=SV