The legislative and presidential elections in Colombia are approaching. With them, countless debates and interviews to learn about the proposals and positions of the candidates. In these spaces, the LGBT issue usually appears through two closed yes or no questions, almost always at the end of the segment: Do you agree with same-sex marriage? Do you agree with adoption by same-sex couples?

Colombia Diversa, Sentiido, Dejusticia and the Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) believe that the presence of LGBT issues in the electoral debate should be much broader and more complex than that. On the one hand, because these two questions correspond to rights that have already been recognised in Colombia for several years. But also because they leave out many other issues relevant to the LGBT population.

That's why we created the guide How to cover LGBT issues at election time?The report is aimed at journalists, columnists and debate organisers. In it we address eight issues that are being left out of the electoral discussion - education, labour, health, violence, among others -, provide context and propose further questions to enrich the discussion.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE HERE

The guide also includes a series of tips for respectful coverage of LGBT issues, whether in election time or in any other context. There you will find recommendations on language, approaches, sources, among others. Finally, we close with a timeline that explains one by one the legal advances for LGBT people in Colombia.

Si eres periodista y te interesa tener una edición física de esta guía, escríbenos al correo cb*******@*************sa.org before 21 February.