Guatemala

Homosexual acts between consenting men over the age of eighteen are legal. However, we have received conflicting reports on the actual social conditions for gay men. The shortcomings in human rights issues in Guatemala remain a major problem and Guatemala is light years away from some of its neighbours regarding the rights of minority groups and gay rights! On October 18, 2008, a teargas bomb was thrown into a meeting being held by two local organizations Amigos contra el Sida and Asociación Gay de Samayac who organised an event called "Our Gay Beauty" in Samayac Suchitepéquez. The event itself was focused on HIV prevention in the context of the campaign by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. No one was seriously injured. This is the second time in 2008 that teargas bombs were used to attack events held by the LGBTI community. There is a small but interesting gay scene in Guatemala City and a few other locations throughout the country. Guatemala is a truly beautiful country with some spectacular landscapes. The people are extremely friendly and the local dishes and specialities are delicious. There are some beautiful, isolated beaches and ancient cultures, just waiting to be discovered.