Chile

Same-sex relations are legal in Chile and have been so since 1998. The age of consent is 18. Sexual relations may only be practiced in the private sphere, otherwise they will be considered as an offence to the "moral and decent behaviour", and could be punished. Since 1997 homophobia has notably diminished in Chile. It remains one of the most serious forms of discrimination, according to studies from the University of Chile. Since 2001 this country experienced a transition that allowed gay men to have an important presence in the media. Discrimination and segregation remain repudiated on the public sphere. An important example of this situation is that the Congress of Chile is considering a law for the civic union of homosexual couples. Thanks to the outings of famous personalities in the media, there is a increasing acceptability of gay lifestyles. This has lead to an increase in the number of gay locations in Santiago (bars, discothèques, saunas, hotels) which are expanding throughout the rest of the country, especially in La Serena (north), Viña del Mar and Valparaíso (middle) and Valdivia (south). In August 2011, Chile's conservative president Piñera introduced a bill that could potentially enable civil partnerships for homosexuals. The left-wing parties generally support this, but would be required to negotiate with the unpopular president to do so. Whether the bill will pass through congress successfully was still uncertain at the time of going to press. In addition, there are many tourist attractions of general interest such as the year-round warm, sunny beaches in the north of the country, or the contrast in the south with its rainy, cold weather, but incomparable, natural beauty. Particularly attractive for tourists are the cities of Valparaíso, recently declared as international cultural heritage, as well as Viña del Mar with its international festival in February.