The fight for LGBTQ+ rights in El Salvador remains an ongoing battle in an environment where discrimination and stigma prevail. Despite the challenges, activists and community members continue to raise their voices in pursuit of equality and recognition. What is the current reality, and what challenges does this population face?
Denied Rights in Latin America
In a country where tradition and social prejudices outweigh inclusion, the LGBTQ+ community faces a daily struggle for recognition of their rights. Exclusion, stigma, discrimination, and hate-fueled violence are just some of the harsh realities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and other gender-diverse individuals in El Salvador. While some turn a blind eye, others speak out to defend their right to exist and be recognized.
Read: Denied Rights Under the State of Exception in El Salvador
Last Saturday night, a bar nestled between the volcano and the city of San Salvador came alive with magic and color. It was the 2025 edition of Willa Fest, an event organized by Will Martínez, artistically known as La Willa, which annually crowns the queen of trans beauty. Amidst music, lights, and applause, the competition not only celebrates elegance and style but also serves as an act of resistance.
Marvin Pleitez, known as Lady Drag, is one of the artists who has turned his craft into a cry for justice. During his performance, with a firm and emotional voice, he recited: “Every minute, every week, they steal our lives, they kill our sisters, they mutilate our bodies, they make us disappear… Don’t forget their names, Mr. President (…)” His words resonated with an audience that, beyond celebrating, remembered those who have lost their lives simply for being who they are.
The Voice of Activists: William Hernández and the Organized Struggle
In the heart of San Salvador, at La Galera Teatro y Cocina, stands William Hernández, president of the organization Entre Amigos, a non-governmental group that has been defending LGBTQ+ rights for over 30 years. With a tired but determined gaze, William explained how the fight has evolved: “Now we use the term LGBTQIA+, which includes lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer, intersex, and more. Some groups don’t belong directly to the community but have joined our struggles in mutual support.”
However, the challenges are immense. The Salvadoran Constitution defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman, denying the right to same-sex marriage. Many couples opt for common-law unions but face social rejection and discrimination. “We were looking for a house to rent, and many times we were denied simply because we were homosexuals,” shared a couple who preferred to remain anonymous.
Additionally, the process of obtaining identity documents that reflect gender identity is a bureaucratic ordeal. Until 2022, only six people had successfully changed their name on the Documento Único de Identidad (DUI). “Judges order city halls to proceed with the changes, but many refuse,” William denounced.
Hate Crimes: The Shadow of Violence
One of the most serious issues facing the LGBTQ+ community is hate crimes. Activists report that for decades, they have been victims not only of gang members but also of state agents. “From taking someone’s life to denying them basic rights like education, housing, or healthcare, violence is constant,” stated William Hernández.
José Hernández, a young environmental activist from Cabañas, knows this reality well. At twenty years old, he has dedicated his life to helping rural communities, but he has also faced discrimination for being gay. “I have experienced discrimination firsthand, through mockery, offensive remarks, and even physical assaults,” he shared. For José, the state does not recognize LGBTQ+ people as rights-holders, leaving them in an extremely vulnerable position.
A Dream of Equality
Despite the obstacles, the LGBTQ+ community in El Salvador continues to dream of a future where the state respects their rights. “We want the return of the rule of law, a state that guarantees human rights for everyone,” expressed José Hernández.
Meanwhile, in events like Willa Fest, resistance is transformed into art, into celebration, into life. As Lady Drag sang during her performance:
«I set everything on fire, I break everything. If one day some bastard dims your eyes, nothing will silence me, nothing will stop me. If they touch one of us, we all respond.»
In a country where diversity remains a challenge, the LGBTQ+ community is not just fighting to exist but to live with dignity. And though the road is long, their voices will not be silenced.
