GLAAD’s Monica Trasandes is about to travel to Chile and Argentina to do media trainings and interviews in both countries, organized by the hard working LGBT advocates from Fundacion Todo Mejora Chile and Fundacion Argentina de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales y Trans (FALGBT).
“I’m excited to share with them the lessons we’ve learned here in the U.S., over so many years of media advocacy work and to help prepare their lead spokespeople to do the sort of effective media work that has helped us share our stories with the American public, which has made a huge difference in growing public acceptance,” Monica says.
In some ways Latin America is ahead of the U.S. in terms of passing or considering legislation on subjects like marriage equality but just like in the United States, much still needs to be done to achieve acceptance and diminish prejudices. Latin Americans, just like North Americans, don’t want just to be protected legally. They want to feel safe and accepted walking down the street holding their partner’s hand.
The LGBT advocates who invited GLAAD to Latin America have prepared action-filled few days. In Chile, Monica will do three media trainings with the country’s leading advocates; she’ll discuss best practices for covering LGBT issues with newspaper, journalists and television network executives from TVN and Canal 13. Finally, she’s scheduled to be interviewed on radio and on TVN by well known journalist Consuelo Saavedra and by Diario El Dínamo journalist Vanessa Azócar. In Argentina, she'll be training advocates and attending an awards event honoring Argentine media professionals, in addition to other activities.
Expect to hear more from Monica during her trip, and to see photos.