LGBT rights in Chile


Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights in Chile have seen remarkable advances in recent years, though LGBT people still face some legal and social obstacles not experienced by non-LGBT Chileans. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Chile. Since 2012, the law bans all discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Since then, the Chilean Armed Forces allow to openly serve gays, lesbians and bisexuals. LGBT people are allowed to donate blood without restrictions since 2013.
Since 22 October 2015, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples have the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples, within a civil union - except for adoption rights and the title of marriage.
Since 1974, the change of gender has been possible in the country through a judicial process. The Gender Identity Law, in effect since 2019, recognizes the right to self-perceived gender identity, allowing people over 14 years to change their name and gender in documents without prohibitive requirements.
According to several surveys, Chilean society majority supports the recognition of the rights of LGBTI people.

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Adult, consensual, non-commercial, same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Chile since 1999, but the liberalization of the criminal code created an unequal age of consent and did not modify vague public indecency laws, which have been used to harass LGBT people in Chile.
In Chile, the age at which there are no restrictions for sexual activities is 18, while the minimum age of consent is 14. Limitations exist between 14 and 18 years old. Even when not clearly stated in Article 362, later on, in Article 365, homosexual activity is declared illegal with anyone under 18 years old.
There also exists in the Chilean Penal Code, a legal figure called estupro. This figure establishes some limitations to sexual contacts with children older than 14 and younger than 18 years old. The estupro legislation defines four situations in which sex with such a children can be declared illegal even if the minor consented to the relationship :
The sexual acts regulated by Articles 361, 362, 363 and 365 are defined as "carnal access", which means either oral, anal or vaginal intercourse. Other articles within the penal code regulate other sexual interactions. Article 365 bis, regulates the "introduction of objects" either in the anus, vagina or mouth. Article 366 bis, defines "sexual act" as any relevant act with sexual significance accomplished by physical contact with the victim, or affecting the victim's genitals, anus or mouth even when no physical contact occurred.
Article 369 states that charges relating to these offenses can be brought only after a complaint by the minor or the minor's parent, guardian or legal representative. Nevertheless, if the offended party cannot freely file the complaint and lacks a legal representative, parent or guardian, or if the legal representative, parent or guardian is involved in the crime, the Public Ministry may proceed by its own.

History

In 1810, the age of consent for opposite-sex activity was 12. In 1999, the age of consent was set at 14 for both girls and boys in relation to heterosexual sex. Homosexual acts were decriminalized in 1999, with an age of consent of 18. In 2011, the Tribunal Constitucional de Chile confirmed that the age of consent is 14 for heterosexual relations, as well as for lesbian relations, but it is 18 for male homosexual relations. In August 2018, the Constitutional Court again rejected that Article 365 of the Criminal Code was unconstitutional, in a 5-5 vote, validating for the second time in its history that the age of consent for gay men is 18, while for heterosexuals and lesbians is 14 years old.
In July 2019, the Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved a bill repealing article 365 that if enacted it would establish a universal age of consent set at 14, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The bill is currently being discussed in the Senate.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

In March 2015, the Ministry of Foreign affairs issued a circular that recognizes same-sex civil unions and equal marriages performed abroad for residency matters. Chile has recognised civil unions since 22 October 2015.

Civil unions

Chile's civil union laws enable same-sex and opposite-sex cohabitating couples to co-own property and make medical decisions as well as claim pension benefits and inherit property if their civil partner dies. Gaining custody of a partner's child where necessary is also made easier by the law. The new law recognises marriages performed abroad as civil unions and views couples and their children as a family.
In August 2011, President Sebastián Piñera introduced a bill to Congress allowing registered cohabitation. After four years of debate and improved provisions added during Michelle Bachelet's administration, the bill was passed in both houses on 28 January 2015. On 13 April 2015, the bill was signed into law by President Bachelet and was published in the Official Gazette on 21 April 2015. It took effect on 22 October 2015.
On 1 December 2016, the Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved a bill to give couples who enter in a civil union five days off, like couples who marry have. The bill was approved by the Senate in October 2017, in a unanimous 15-0 vote. It took effect on 8 November 2017.

Same-sex marriage bill

On 28 August 2017, President Michelle Bachelet introduced the Marriage Equality Bill, fulfilling an election promise and as part of the "Friendly Settlement Agreement" signed in June 2016 by the State of Chile with the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, in the context of a lawsuit filed before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, involving the lack of access to civil marriage by three same-sex couples in Chile.
The bill would have amended the definition of marriage of article 102 of the Civil Code, replacing the phrase that determines it as the union "between a man and a woman", by "the union between two people". In addition, the measure contemplates the right of joint adoption and filiation for same-sex couples. As of January 2020, the bill is still under debate.

Adoption, parenting and family planning

Chilean law stipulates that single people are allowed to adopt, regardless of their sexual orientation. Same-sex couples are allowed to apply to adopt. If applicants are approved as suitable to adopt, legally only one of them would be the legal parent of the child. For same-sex couples, within a civil union or not, that raise a child together, if the legal parent dies, it is easier for the surviving parent to get custody of the partner's child. In Chile, families or individuals interested in adopting must apply and be approved by Sename, which keeps the registry of children eligible for adoption. Final approval is granted by the Family Court. According to studies done by Movilh, 10 percent of same-sex couples declare having children in Chile. In 86% of cases, lesbian mothers have custody of their children, while only 33% when it comes to gays parents.
Currently in 2020, Chile's Congress is debating the "Bill of the Integral Reform of the Adoption System in Chile" that would allow adoption by same-sex couples. On May 8, 2019, the Chamber of Deputies passed the bill by 104 votes in favor, 35 against and 4 abstentions, allowing joint and step-parent adoption by same-sex couples, within a marriage, civil union or not, and banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the process of adoption. Two amendments that were presented by the Government were rejected which sought to establish at all events that the opposite-sex couples of "father and mother" should be privileged, over same-sex couples, but another "discriminatory" amendment was successfully introduced stating that "if the child or adolescent expresses his will to have a father and a mother, the judge must consider it preferentially." The bill now moves to the Senate.

Filiation

In Chile, filiation is defined by birth, therefore, same-sex couples may not recognize a child in the birth certificate. Nevertheless, on July 5, 2017, the Seventh Civil Court of Santiago ordered the Civil Registry to register two children as sons of two men. The Chilean-American couple adopted both children in 2014 in Connecticut, USA. The ruling was endorsed in July 2019 by the Santiago Court of Appeals. Finally, on June 26, 2020, the Civil Registry registered both parents into the birth certificate of both children.
On June 8, 2020, the Second Family Court of Santiago ordered the Civil Registry Service to register a child on his birth certificate as the son of two women. The couple underwent an assisted reproduction technique to have their child. Previously, in March 2015, a lesbian mother filed a voluntary petition to a Family Court to have her daughter legally recognized as the daughter of her partner. In November 2015, the Supreme Court ruled against the two mothers, by a vote of three to two.
In April 2016, the Filiation Regulation for Children of Same Sex Families bill was introduced into the Senate. If passed, the bill would offer three pathways to legally recognize the filiation of same-sex parents to their children. On July 1, 2020, the bill was approved at its first reading in the Senate by 27 votes in favor, 13 against and 1 abstention, and will now go to the Special Commission on Children and Adolescents.
The Marriage Equality bill introduced in August 2017 by President Bachelet, would allow joint adoption to married same-sex couples and filiation, for both married and unmarried same-sex couples.
In September 2017, ten MPs introduced a bill to allow adoption by same-sex couples within a civil union.

Family planning

There are no laws that guarantee or protect the right to access to assisted reproductive technology. Lesbian couples may access to IVF treatments, though they do not have medical insurance coverage due they do not have an infertility pathology.
Currently in Chile, there is no specific legislation on surrogacy. In January 2018, a bill to allow altruistic surrogacy for same-sex couples and to ban commercial surrogacy for all couples was introduced to Congress.

Nicolás Has Two Dads

In 2014, a children’s book addressing same-sex parent families was published. The book is currently being distributed to pre-school kids in public kindergartens in Chile. Despite being backed by the Chilean government, "Nicolás Has Two Dads" is not compulsory reading material for kindergartens throughout the country.
"Nicolás Has Two Dads", written by Movilh, tells the story of Nicolás, a little boy who lives with his two fathers. From sleepovers and trips to the stadium to reunions with his biological mother and explaining to his classmates why he has two dads, Nicolás leads readers through his everyday life.
The book is sponsored by The National Kindergarten Board, the Association of Toddler Educators, the National Directorate of Libraries, Archives and Museums, and the Departments of Psychology and Early Childhood and Basic Education of the University of Chile.

Discrimination protections

In Chile there are different laws, regulations and public policies that protect LGBT people from discrimination. However, according to Movilh's Annual Reports on the Human Rights of Sexual Diversity, each year more cases are reported because there is more empowerment among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to fight for their rights and to denounce discriminatory acts.
Article 373 of the Penal Code, based on the "offenses to morals and good customs" has been for years the only legal standard that has used the police to harass homosexuals, even for behavior such as holding hands in public. In 2010, the bill to repeal the article was rejected in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. Nevertheless, the XIV version of the Annual Report on the Human Rights of Sexual Diversity in Chile for the year 2015, emphasizes in one of its chapters on police abuses and arbitrary arrests by mentioning that "for the first time in seven years no police abuses were reported against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people." A positive reality that has been influenced by the work of the Human Rights Department of Carabineros, which reacted rapidly to any suspicious denunciation of homophobia and transphobia, and promote, among officials, various training lectures.

Anti-discrimination law

The law in effect since 2012, imposes penalties for acts of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and since 2018 gender expression. It allows citizens to file anti-discrimination lawsuits and requires the State to develop public policies to end discrimination. It describes as illegal discrimination "any distinction, exclusion or restriction that lacks reasonable justification, committed by agents of the state or individuals, and that causes the deprivation, disturbance or threatens the legitimate exercise of fundamental rights." The law is colloquially known as the Zamudio law, in honor of Daniel Zamudio.

Goods and services

In Chile, the relationship between suppliers of goods or services and consumers is regulated by Law No. 19,496 on the Protection of the Rights of Consumers. Article 3 states that are basic rights of the consumer, among others, the right to non-discrimination. The anti-discrimination law enacted in 2012 defines discrimination and includes protection against it on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
In December 2012, in the first ruling under the anti-discrimination law, a judge ordered a motel to pay a fine to a lesbian couple for refusing them entry, and ordered that it can't refuse entry on another occasion.
The Third Civil Court of Santiago was emphatic in saying that denying services or products based on sexual orientation or gender identity was illegal.

Employment

Since 2016, the Labor Code explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Labor Inclusion Law enacted in May 2017, which also amends the Law on Administrative Statute, prohibits any act of arbitrary discrimination resulting in exclusions or restrictions, based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In 2004, the authorities announced that the rules of non-discrimination guaranteed in labor law also apply to the sexual minorities. In 2007, The Department of Labor made possible, through the implementation of the new politics, to make reports of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The change came from a petition by Movilh and originated from an event in 2007 when an employee did the first report of this kind in a governmental instance. In June 2014, The Department of Labor officially updated the "Principles regarding the right to non-discrimination" set out in the Labour Code, according to the effects of the anti-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.
In December 2015, a court ordered the Municipality of Talca to compensate three former employees who had been dismissed because of their sexual orientation. The court ruling also requires the Mayor Juan Castro Prieto and other officials to be trained in human rights.

In schools

The General Law of Education promulgated in 2009, included the principles of non-discrimination and respect to diversity. The Ministry of Education launched in 2010 the School Coexistence Regulation, which points out the importance of eradicating the discrimination against LGBT people in the classroom.
In September 2011, Chile's Congress approved "The Law about School Violence" that amended the General Law of Education to establish definitions, procedures, and penalties for school violence and bullying. The law has a positive impact on the fight against homophobia and transphobia in the classroom. Educational institutions are required to create a Good School Coexistence Committee which will be responsible for managing and take all necessary measures to ensure a non-violent school life.
In 2013, the Superintendence of Education updated the Handbook for educational establishments on Rules of Procedure with regard to school coexistence, which orders the non-discriminatory treatment concerning students based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and indicates that the regulation of all schools must sanction any act of discrimination between members of the school community.
In 2015, two new policies of the Ministry of Education recognized the importance of promoting the rights of LGBTI people in classrooms. The National School Coexistence Policy 2015-2018 guarantees non-discrimination for sexual diversity and it is incorporated into the School Calendar 2016 the "International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia." The Ministry of Education recommends to schools develop educational, artistic, cultural or sports activities in commemoration of the date.
The School Inclusion law, that took effect in March 2016, guarantees non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, mentioning the anti-discrimination law.

Housing

Since 2015, the Civil union law officially recognises same-sex couples as a family, and offers protection in access to housing.
The Ministry of Housing and Town Planning issued an instruction in 2009 which officially extended the benefit of housing allowance to couples made up of people of the same sex. The Minister Patricia Poblete said that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not allowed in any of the services offered by her ministry, so gay couples can apply, without problems, housing subsidies. In 2013 it was confirmed that the "rent subsidy" program benefits all families and young couples regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Since 2016, the "Household Social Register" recognizes same-sex cohabiting couples. It is an information system whose objective is to support the nomination and selection of beneficiaries of institutions and government agencies that provide social benefits.

Hate crimes law

In 2012, the Anti-discrimination law amended the Criminal Code adding a new aggravating circumstance of criminal responsibility, as follows: "Committing or participating in a crime motivated by ideology, political opinion, religion or beliefs of the victim; nation, race, ethnic or social group; sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, affiliation, personal appearance or suffering from illness or disability."

Hate speech law

In July 2017, ten MPs introduced a bill to amend the Criminal Code to incorporate the crime of incitement to hatred or violence against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other distinctions.
On 4 September 2017, Michelle Bachelet introduced a bill to Congress which would criminalize incitement to violence against a person or a group of people, based on race, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or beliefs. The law will also amend the Press Law and the Law on Criminal Responsibility of Legal Entities.
On January 9, 2020, the Chamber of Deputies passed the bill outlawing incitement to hatred or violence and hate speech against people based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Anti-torture law

In November 2016, President Michelle Bachelet enacted the Anti-torture law establishing criminal penalties for torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. It covers physical, psychological abuse and sexual violence, and includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories. The law aims to punish people in public service positions, both public employee or private individuals in public service, who instigate, carry out or hide knowledge of torture.

Childhood Act

Bill on "System of Guarantees of Rights of the Childhood," includes protection from discrimination towards LGBTI children and adolescents. On 2 May 2017, the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill including LGBTI categories. The bill now heads to the Senate for discussion.
Article 9 of the bill states that "no child shall be arbitrarily discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics," among other distinctions.

Immigration law

The Migration and Immigration bill bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Chamber of Deputies passed the bill on January 16, 2019.

Gender violence law

The bill on Gender Violence establishes the right of women to a life free of violence. The purpose of this law is to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, among others. Also, it amends the Penal Code and the Intrafamily Violence law to include same-sex couples. The Chamber of Deputies passed the bill on January 17, 2019.

Anti-femicide law

The so-called Gabriela's Law, named for Gabriela Alcaino, was signed into law on March 2, 2020. It extends the legal definition of femicide to any person who commits a gender-motivated homicide of a woman. It defines crimes against women as any that “represent a manifestation of hatred, contempt or abuse because of gender,” and covers physical, sexual, economic, institutional, political and workplace violence. The definition also extends to the death of a woman when it occurs due to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of the victim.

Other areas

Since 2010, Law 20.418 on the Right to education, information and guidance on Fertility states that "everyone has the right to confidentiality and privacy about their sexual options and behaviors, as well as the methods and therapies they choose for the regulation or planning of their sexual life."
In May 2014, Law 20.750 on the Introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television was enacted. The law creates the National Television Council whose main function is to ensure the proper functioning of television services. It is understood by the correct functioning of these services the permanent respect, through its programming, to pluralism. For the purposes of this law, pluralism will be understood as "respect for social, cultural, ethnic, political, religious, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity, and it shall be the duty of the concessionaires and permit holders of TV services regulated by this law to observe these principles."
In December 2015, President Michelle Bachelet signed a decree to set up the Office of the Undersecretary of Human Rights and establish an Inter-ministerial Human Rights Committee. It provides for a National Human Rights Plan that seeks to prevent discrimination, with specific reference to the anti-discrimination law that protects LGBT people in Chile.

Gender identity and expression

In Chile, transgenderism is often associated with homosexuality. In the early part of the twenty-first century, the legal rights of transgender people in Chile has begun to improve and be legally recognized. Since 2012, Law No. 20,609 expressly recognizes the legal protection of gender identity, banning discrimination on that basis and adding it as an aggravating factor of criminal responsibility. Since 2019, the Gender Identity Law allow transgender people over the age of 14 to legally change their name and gender on all official documents. Before, the change of name and legal gender were possible through a judicial process. According to official data from the Civil Registry and Identification Service, between 2007 and 2016, 186 people have changed their gender.

Gender Identity Law

Law 21.120, which recognizes and protects the right to gender identity, introduced in 2013 and enacted in 2018, establishes a legal procedure that allows the change of name and registered sex in all official documents. For unmarried persons over 18 years of age, the change is requested by submitting a request to the Civil Registry and Identification Service, without being required to prove hormone replacement therapy or undergo sex reassignment surgery.
Children under 18 and over 14 years old must complete the process before family courts, either through their legal parent or representative or by themselves, if the judge accepts the latter option. For such effects, antecedents on the psychosocial and family context of the adolescent and their relatives must be presented. Children under 14 years of age, although they will not be able to make a gender change through the law, are recognized as transgender.
The Law guarantees as basic principles non-pathologization, non-arbitrary discrimination, confidentiality, dignity in the treatment, the best interests of the child and progressive autonomy. In addition, to become effective, the law establishes the creation of two regulations that include gender transition accompaniment programs for minors, and another on the requirements and accreditation for the change of name and registered sex. Finally, "gender expression" is added as a protected category to the Anti-discrimination Law.

History

After five years of debate in Congress, on September 5, 2018, the Senate approved the bill by 26 votes in favor and 14 against. On September 12 the Chamber of Deputies did the same with 95 in favor and 46 against. On October 25, 2018, the Constitutional Court declares the constitutionality of the approved law. On November 28, 2018, President Sebastián Piñera signs and enact the law. On December 10, 2018, the law is published in the Official Gazette. The two regulations for the law to take effect were published in August 2019. The law took effect on December 27, 2019.

Gender change (1974-2018)

In 1974, Marcia Alejandra Torres became the first person in Chile to legally change her name and gender on the birth certificate. Previously, in May 1973, Marcia was the first person in the country to undergo a sex reassignment surgery.
Until 2018, in Chile there was no specific law in force that regulates a procedure, nor specific requirements, to achieve the change of legal gender in the documents. A legal process must be initiated before a Civil Court, making use of the procedure to change the name of Law Nº 17,344. There must be presented a number of witnesses, and according to the requirements of each judge attach psychological and psychiatric evaluations, and certificates evidencing eventual surgical interventions or hormone replacement therapy. The resolution of the sentence is at the discretion of the Court, which may eventually approve only the change of name, leaving the sex assigned at birth, or modify both.
In 2007, trans activist Andrés Rivera and a transgender woman were allowed, by judicial order, to change their name and gender on legal documents. In both cases, for the first time, surgery was not a requirement. Several court rulings have allowed the change of name and gender on birth certificates, where a sex reassignment surgery has not been a requirement for the judge.

Public policy

The LGBT rights group Movilh achieved in 2001 that the Civil Register made an announcement that made possible for transsexuals in Chile to obtain their identity documentation without having to change their appearance. In 2009 the National Organization of Gendarmeries ordered the end to disciplinary sanctions against inmates which prevented them to dress accordingly to their gender identity.
In 2011 the Ministry of Health approved a circular which obliged to call and register transsexuals by their social name in all care centers in Chile and launched the first protocol which at nation level regulated the medical procedures of body alteration. This was preceded by a pilot plan for free medical attention for transsexuals put in action by the Ministry of Health through a proposal of Movilh.
In 2002 some offices had already established a certain health record for transsexuals so that they could receive care adequate of their gender identity.
Since 2013, sex reassignment surgeries and hormone therapy are funded by the public health system.

Transgender Children and Youth

Even before the law was passed in November 2018, some transgender children changed their name and gender on legal documents with judicial permission. Requirements could vary at the judge's discretion, and some cases were made public.
In April 2017, the Ministry of Education issued a ministerial circular entitled "Rights of girls, boys and trans students in the field of education." The document, addressed to school administrations nationwide, points out that failure to comply with the measures constitutes an infraction that will be sanctioned according to its seriousness. Some of the required measures for schools include: guaranteeing the social name of trans students in all fields; guaranteeing the right to wear uniforms, sports clothes or accessories according to their gender identity; and providing bathroom and shower facilities that respect the gender identity of trans students.
The bill "System of Guarantees of Rights of the Childhood" recognizes the right of children and adolescents to develop their gender identity. Article 19 based on "Identity" states that "every child has the right, from birth, to have a name, a nationality and a language of origin; to know the identity of their fathers and/or mothers; to preserve their family relations in accordance with the law; to know and practice the culture of their place of origin and, in general, to preserve and develop their own identity and idiosyncrasy, including their gender identity."

Intersex rights

According to the Civil Registry and Identification Service, between 2006 and 2017, 269 intersex children have been registered under the category of "indeterminate sex" on official records. In January 2016, the Chilean Ministry of Health temporarily ordered the suspension of normalization treatments on intersex children. The guidelines ended in August 2016. Anti-discrimination legislation is before the Senate.

Military service

The Military of Chile does not discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. It officially prohibits discrimination against LGBT people.
In 2012, the commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army Juan Miguel Fuente-Alba, reported the repeal of all rules and regulations that prevented LGBT people from entering the Armed Forces. On 10 September 2012, by Order of Command No. 6583/126, it was declared expressly repealed all those rules or provisions of institutional regulations, which contravene the principle of non-discrimination according to the Anti-discrimination law.
In 2014, the Ministry of National Defense, established the Committee for Diversity and Non-Discrimination which will aim to advance concrete measures to eradicate discrimination and arbitrary exclusions in the military. The instance, which is composed of representatives of all branches of the Military of Chile, expressly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The resolution, signed by Defense Minister Jorge Burgos, established the government as responsible for creating a more inclusive armed services.
The same year, sailor Mauricio Ruiz became the first serving member of the Armed Forces to publicly assume his homosexuality. Ruiz said that what was most important was not a soldier's sexual orientation, but his or her willingness to serve the country. His announcement came with the full backing of the Chilean Navy.
On 29 May 2015, the commander-in-chief Humberto Oviedo, aware that the anti-discrimination issue requires a more specific regulation, and indeed a cultural change within the army, issued an Order of Command to expand and complement the 2012 order that had repealed all rules contrary to the Anti-discrimination law. It was established emphatically that "the Chilean Army, as an institution that must and belongs to all Chileans without exception, does not discriminate arbitrarily on the basis of race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, affiliation, personal appearance or any other reason." The discriminatory conducts of its officials are "expressly and definitively prohibited." If someone violates this principle will incur a "very serious offense, regardless of the rank hierarchy, category or type of contract."

Blood donation

In 2013, the Health Ministry lifted a ban on gay and lesbian blood donations.
Before, potential blood donors would be asked their sexual orientation as a part of a questionnaire that would decide whether or not their blood was viable. Anyone identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual was prohibited from donating blood.
The current language in the questionnaire now only restricts donors with a history of risky sexual behavior, regardless of the sexual orientation of the participant. Risky sexual conduct is defined by the Health Ministry as sex with more than one partner in the previous 12 months.

Conversion therapy

In June 2015, the Chilean College of Psychologists announced its rejection to the realization of so-called "reparative therapy to cure homosexuality," also known as conversion therapies. After conducting an investigation, through its Gender and Sexual Diversity Committee, established that "the different sexual orientations are no deviations or mental illness, therefore, there is no disease to cure." Through a press release, they stated that "there is no scientific study showing that conversion therapies change homosexuality, so only produce frustration and damage to their patients."
In February 2016, the Chilean Ministry of Health for the first time expressed their opposition to conversion therapy.
"We consider that the practices known as ‘reparative therapies’ or ‘conversion’ of homosexuality represent a grave threat to health and well-being, including the life, of the people who are affected," they stated.

Mental Health Protection Bill

On 18 October 2017, the Chamber of Deputies passed the Mental Health Protection bill, which states in its article 6 that "a mental health diagnosis can not be made based solely on criteria related to the political, socioeconomic, cultural, racial or religious group of the person, nor with their identity or sexual orientation." The bill now heads to the Senate for discussion.

Public opinion

Public opinion has shown substantial support for same-sex civil unions: 65% favored their legalization in 2004, even though only 24% supported same-sex marriage.
In 2009, 33.2% supported same-sex marriage and 26.5% supported adoption by same-sex couples. Support among young people is much higher: according to a study by the National Youth Institute of Chile, 56% of young respondents supported same-sex marriage, while 51.3% supported same-sex adoption.
An August 2012 poll found that 54.9% of Chileans support same-sex marriage, while 40.7% are opposed. A more recent poll showed that 70% of youths support same-sex marriage.
On 7 September 2015, a poll found that 60% of Chileans support marriage between same-sex couples, while 44% support same-sex adoption.
On 23 January 2017, a survey by the same pollster found that 64% of Chileans support same-sex marriage, including 71% of unaffiliated people, 66% of Catholics and 41% of Evangelicals. The support was higher among left-leaning and centrist Chileans, whilst it was lower among independents and right-leaning ones.
An Ipsos poll of 27 countries concerning transgender people revealed that Chile had the highest acceptance for member of the transgender community out of all the countries, with 82% agreeing that transgender people should be allowed surgery so that their body matches their identity, 79% agreeing that a transgender person should be able to conceive or give birth if possible, 70% agreeing on discrimination protections, 69% agreeing with allowing transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to the sex with which they identify, and only 13% believing that transgender people "suffer from a mental illness". A March 2018 poll showed that 67% supported the Gender Identity Law, while only 37% supported children changing their birth sex.
On 8 May 2018, a CADEM survey found that 65% and 52% of Chileans support same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption, respectively.

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal
Equal age of consent For male / For female
Anti-discrimination laws in employment
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
Anti-discrimination laws in other areas
Anti-discrimination laws covering gender expression in all areas
LGBT anti-discrimination law in public and private schools
LGBT anti-bullying law in public and private schools
Hate crimes law including sexual orientation and gender identity
Hate speech law including sexual orientation and gender identity
Anti-torture law including sexual orientation and gender identity
Anti-femicide law covering sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
Recognition of same-sex couples
Same-sex marriage
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples/
Adoption by single LGBT person
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military
Right to change legal gender
Sex-reassignment surgery not required for the change of legal gender
Sexual orientation conversion therapy banned by law
Intersex minors protected from invasive surgical procedures
Third option 'indeterminate sex' for intersex children on birth certificates
Access to artificial insemination/IVF for lesbian couples
Automatic parenthood for both spouses after birth/
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
MSMs allowed to donate blood