Diane Marie Rodríguez Zambrano

Beginnings

At 26 years old she began her life as an activist in 2000 with the extinct foundation "Amigos por la Vida" of the city of Guayaquil. In this volunteer organization, she was initially the Secretary of the Foundation´s president. After a year, she began to connect with other NGO youth groups. She championed with other young LGBTI the processes related to sexual orientation and HIV/AIDS in the first bill of youth, promoted at the time by the "house of youth" of the old ministry of "social welfare" of Ecuador.

After several years, she directly contacted the Kimirina Corporation to participate as a field researcher in the "Needs Assessment in transgender populations which would reaffirm their hypothesis of the situational state of transgender people in those years. The results of the study were shown publicly after a year.

She developed LGBT activist rights in Ecuador while she was in college studying Commercial Engineering, which she left in her 2nd year due to bullying at the various companies where she worked. She did not abandon her social progress despite being trapped by the system every day.

Community-based organization

In 2006, with the support of "transgender project" of Quito, she created in the city of Guayaquil the community-based organization (CBO): "Future Community", an organization that focuses on specialized local activism for gender identity. This proposal arose from the confusion and the need of its founders to separate the issues: sexual orientation and gender identity. The organization failed after six months due to "GayPatriarchy - gaytriarcado" (a term coined by Diane Rodriguez in 2012) that illegitimated their work.

Silueta X

After serving for 26 years, she created the girl group "Silhouette X" (Silueta X), whose name comes from the questioning before the system Kish - Straight. The activities of this group had such an impact that they had an interview in the Daily Spectator of Colombia that discussed trans and intersex activism in Ecuador.

In 2010 the project "Social inclusion of young transgender people to be trained in micro-enterprises, decreasing poverty, sex work and proliferation HIV/AIDS" was approved, which gave the opportunity to legally register the organization and pass the "Girl Group Silhouette X" to "Silueta X Association".

Kidnapping

In February 2012, she was kidnapped for four hours after leaving the "Silueta X" offices. The criminals knew Diane Rodriguez and her work. The event was strategically planned, and four months later she received a call indicating that the next time she would not go unscathed.

The financial loss was not a serious injury compared with the attempts to rape she suffered. This experience almost cost her her life, was reported in the respective state attorney general's office of the city of Guayaquil. She suffered from PTSD for almost two months.

Incidence work

In 2008, while working in the "Hotel Oro Verde" of Guayaquil, she was unexpectedly fired by the hotel chain. Although it was the 3rd company that had done this to Diane Rodriguez, she had never filed a legal complaint due to a lack of knowledge of the laws, which allowed her to file a legal complaint against the company for employment discrimination. It is speculated that it was employment discrimination because the day before the group Silueta X developed a panel with the Kimirina Corporation and the "Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion of Ecuador" entitled: "Increasing HIV/AIDS awareness in transgender youth" and the event "the transgender and their capabilities", held at the zonal government of Guayaquil. The events were covered by various media and Diane Rodriguez publicly participated (at that time as a transvestite). Diane Rodriguez followed a legal process to sue the hotel, creating a precedent in the Ecuador, in which an LGBT individual filed a discrimination lawsuit against a private company.

The legal battle continued until 2009. Rodriguez was not seeking damages or compensation, but only to be reinstated to her old job as a cashier, and have her gender identity respected at work. Public hearings from the ombudsman and the hotel were prolonged, but indicated that they could not accept it because her self-identification as a woman did not match her legal identity as Benedict Luis Rodriguez Zambrano.

Legal advocacy

The legal requirements of the hotel to reinstate her to work drove her to implement the campaign: "Females with Female Names", unleashing the legal implications of trans issues interest in this country. With the "Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador" of 2008 in its favor; which first entered the "gender identity" initiates a legal complaint against the "civil status" because it denies the request to change their names from male to female.

Her second legal battle resulted in her favor, after several internal adjustments of the "Civil Registration" with the Ombudsman in February 2009, making this achievement in the first legal precedent in the Republic of Ecuador in transgender identity. A law was created to establish access for transgender, transsexual and intersex people to change their names masculine to feminine or vice versa .

After partially meeting the legal demands of the hotel company, she continued with the first filed legal complaint, ignoring the change of its female names for later testify in open court, that the hotel had economic problems and were downsizing. This stalled the process of the employment discrimination complaint because they could not incorporate it to work, by economic arguments. The hotel promised to locate another company for Diane Rodriguez, but that never materialized. Later, another complaint was presented to the Ombudsman's Office, where it was found that the hotel, months after the legal process, was in search of new cashiers to work in the same hotel company. The case continues and is still open, and there is no legal resolution from the Ombudsman's Office of Ecuador.

Completing this year, through a protective action against the Civil Registration, other legal process starts on this occasion to demand recognition of their female gender identity, sponsored by the Ombudsman's Office. However, months after he was denied the action for defense by the first civil court. The judicial record of the complaint, after this result, instead of continuing to the provincial court, stagnates when dilated by the Ombudsman's Office, lost his case for sex change in the identity card, after a couple years.

Impact Media

For the first time, after having had a bad report with the Extra Journal in 2009 with the headline "I'm going to marry a black and adopt 3 children" whereby Diane Rodriguez, made public its complaint against daily, comes to terms with it, to make "positive reports Silueta X" which initially started nine transgender members of Silueta X, with points in the photographic studio of the Journal, and subsequently standardized good stories, not only in that environment, but it influenced the context.

The initial aim was to position the trans issue within the country through the medium of communication was most widely read as this environment, achieving in this way the visibility of activities inherent to LGBTI issues, like no other media had done. Later an awards ceremony, where the biggest winner was the medium who had previously had disputes were made.

Impact on authorities

In developing the 2010 complained to the authorities and had media uptake on Census population of INEC (National Institute of Statistics and Censuses) of Ecuador, due to the lack of advice and unwillingness register in the same populations LGBTI, especially those transgender, that having been born in one sex living in another genre. The trans and intersex endpoint was great demand as identified as the man born and live as women or vice versa, is to falsify information. The demands sustained that trans and intersex people do not belong to neither, getting lost in that census the opportunity to make a statistic LGBTI. In the same year, conducted the study "Psycho- social about sex work among transgender and transsexual youth 15 to 29 years in the city of Guayaquil during 2010", which had an impact local. Regarding their results, due to the approach to prostitution trans

It lapsing 2011 Diane Rodriguez, got the attention of the Ministry of Interior and police community, by proposing a joint effort with the transgender population. The approach, part from the various complaints of trans partners who performed sex work, who expressed the abuse of some policemen. Thus begins the inter - institutional agreements with the authorities and get to the first "awareness workshops in sexuality and género", in order to reduce stigma and discrimination against prostitutes and transgender sex workers in Guayaquil.

Victor Victoria

In 2009, with several organizations led by Kimirina corporation, Diane Rodriguez gave life to the first comics or preventive character transgender, which he called "Victor Victoria".

The magazine was intended to give the necessary attention to the transgender population in the different aspects of everyday life such as health, education, employment, violence, including trans specificities. Publication of the journal was kept for two years in a row, reaching the trans population in general.

My gender My ID card

Launches "My gender campaign in my ID Card (Mi Género Mi Cédula in Spanish)", with the Project Transgender, CONFETRANS, Peppermint Foundation, Articulation feminist building equality and Silueta X Association, in order to land the Article 11 paragraph 2 of the constitution of the Republic of Ecuador on reforms to the Act Civil Registration. Such demands for gender identity, born after legal complaint filed the civil registry for sex change in the identity, then the Ombudsman of Quito, indicated that his proceedings against the registry so that your gender is recognized in the identity card was lost, dilation

The "My gender on my identity card" campaign - a point of exercising citizenship, had a positive impact on the Ecuadorian context and in the assembly, which in the first instance the whole, the bill passed with 75% in favor in December 2012. However, now the bill is suspended, with the possibility to be vetoed. This new panorama, born to confusion by far-right groups with the theme of gay marriage, which although is another important topic for LGBTI, had nothing to do whatsoever with the amendments to the Act Civil Registry.

It's time for equality

Launch the campaign in June 2013, "It's time for equality, for freedom from discrimination Ecuador (Es tiempo de Igualdad, por un Ecuador Libre de Discriminación in Spanish)", which aims to reduce stigma and discrimination in the country. Thanks to this campaign several complaints like Zulema Constant, Sara Solórzano and Dennise Freire, related to LGBTI torture clinics or homosexualization, in an attempt of sexual diversity groups, stop the violence and torture emerge ellos.

LGBTI Medical Center

In May 2013 launched the first psycho - medical for gays, lesbians, bisexual, intersex and transgender people in Ecuador. Her teammates in honor of his work called him "Diane Rodriguez" at a public event with safe and state authorities. This safe center is the first of its kind because it has specialized for LGBTI groups especially on the issue of gender identity medicine, which has been evident for years its lack of attention, including at mundial. and also with psychological support, issues of diversity sexual.

Civil disobedience

Declares the May 7, 2011 in "civil disobedience", to be selected by the CNE-National Electoral Board as 3rd Member of the Board #137 of Men to be violent their right to sexual privacy and the free development of his personality. Your claim arises from the refusal of the CNE, not relocate at a meeting of women. The public response from the CNE, do not satisfy the expectations of activist being forced to self- declare in civil disobedience.

Board males

In February 2013 he is again violated their gender identity, when exposed to row in the pattern of men exercising their right to vote. Despite being the 2nd time the CNE does not pay attention to their claims, this time defrayed with the same arrogance that led his political campaign as the first transgender candidate in that país.

Movement Political Alianza Pais

His political process started in parallel with their activism, participating in the political spaces of young people in the leftist "Alianza País", in 2010. Maintained an active participation within the youth movement to the point of being considered representative LGBTI at that time.

For the year 2011 along with several young "Alianza País" on the premises of the collective "Movimiento Alfarista-Bolivaariano" formed the Committee of the Citizen Revolution (Comité de la Revolución Ciudadana in Spanish) "Youth for national transformation", with whom begins develop activities located in demand for youth groups political movement. Is selected as part of the management committee of the newly formed citizen's revolution.

Movement Political Ruptura 25

Meet María Paula Romo, high representative of the political movement Breakdown 25 (Ruptura 25 in Spanish) - previously signed by the Alliance Country "Country Agreement" - on the outskirts of the University of Guayaquil, with Francisco Jiménez, Guayas ex-gobernartor, who were collecting signatures for legalization movement. Together with a fellow activist, was invited to attend meetings of the political movement Guayaquil.

Since 2012, and after having dabbled repeatedly about the ideologies of movement activist openly involved in it. Directory is part of this movement, even legally for registration with the national electoral council for the province of Guayas.

Candidacy

In October 2012, the general assembly of "Ruptura 25", is nominated in the primaries as a possible candidate for the province of Guayas. This was completed during the nominations of candidates for that month to the delegate "Electoral National Council" who voted for his nomination unanimously. Leaves the country for an emergency which causes problems for his candidacy to be denied registration by the CNE (National Electoral Council) for "legal uncertainty", introducing the authorized copy of the identity card, and witness the institution of male and female names. With original documents, members of "Ruptura 25", managed to enroll no more drawbacks Diane Rodriguez raised that, while ignore the legal uncertainty now reveal the identity of the activist, having female names with gender masculino. Diane Rodriguez led a campaign with few resources receiving external support as spots, videos etc... motivated by the activism.

Strife policy

During the political campaign, her has several impasses with the presidential candidate and evangelist Nelson Zavala, who repeatedly dismissed their participation from the more fundamentalist criteria and religious. In view of the different statements against Conservative candidate Diane Rodriguez, national electoral Council develops a plan contingency which includes "hate crimes" during the campaign. Thus, the electoral body was still on the presidential candidate process judicial candidate against Nelson Zavala, culminating in the elimination of its civil rights and politicians within one year and pay a fine 3120 dollars. This achievement, the first of its kind throughout Latin America becomes equally, other social processes, which even won a contest in international law, as the first of its kind.

Results

At the end of the campaign Diane Rodriguez defrayed in row of men, despite their public claims to the CNE to make it meet the standard of women.

The official results of the political movements were declared on March 15, 2013, where it was confirmed that anyone candidate of the movement "Ruptura 25", was able to secure a seat for the assembly, including of course Diane Rodríguez. The political movement of the government "Alianza Pais", won more than 100 seats in the assembly, reaching an overwhelming majority in the new period terminating on 2017.

Message from the President

On March 19, 2013, after his candidacy and again and completely dedicated to civil activism, reelected president Rafael Correa Delgado, sent a tweet the transsexual ex-candidate Assemblyman, which expressed "Dear Diane, I just wanted to say that I admire and respect deeply, but do not share all its principles."

Invitation president

In May 2013, a special treat, which makes the president of Ecuador to the first activist LGBTI for change the "Presidential Guard" from his new period, a civic act of high importance, in particular Carondelet.

The Historical Meeting LGBTI

During the invitation by President Rafael Correa to Diane Rodriguez in May 2013, she used the space to request a private meeting and expose the situational status of the population LGBTI of Ecuador. This particular meeting was the December 13, 2013, where the protocol activist jumped and took 8 reps of various conditions sex - Generic and various organizations and provinces of Ecuador, thus consecrating, "The Historical Meeting LGBTI between President Rafael Correa and the Collective of diversity Sexual".

This meeting concluded agreements essential for justice, health, education and employment for the populations of the diversity of Ecuador, which eventually went from a situational exposure to specific agreements. Some activists, particularly Homosexuals (Gays and Lesbians) Diane Rodriguez criticized for not having proposed "Equal Marriage" which from the perspective of the activist is a populist issue and contributes little to the basic needs of people variously sexuality. It is noteworthy that the position of Diane Rodriguez is the deconstruction of the capitalist system, which prevents him from defending the "Equal Marriage" as a right, as she thinks more of its abolition.

This revolutionary ideology of Diane Rodriguez is similar to that of Beatriz Preciado, Spanish philosopher recognized that contemporary criticism has broad claims, such as Gay Marriage: «The demand for legalization of gay marriage comes indirectly strengthen marriage as condition of access to citizenship. Similarly, institutional programs to combat so-called "gender violence" contribute to a naturalization of the relationship between violence and masculinity, masking their own violence to marital and family structures (which are further reinforced by the demands of gay marriage)».

The Historic Meeting with President Rafael Correa and sexual diversity, had a profound impact within the LGBTI populations in Ecuador, of which several media published as successful, and the president himself on the citizen bond Dec. 14 described it as productive.

Discrimination vs. freedom of expression

With the recent approval in Communications Law Ecuador, Diane Rodriguez becomes the stirring social and the 33 common legal organizations Afro -Ecuadorian, indigenous, local peasants, women, LGBTI, etc. to summon and create the National Platform of Human Rights, for later file a legal complaint against comedy shows, entertainment, variety, etc. that influence stigma and discrimination against these groups. The Ombudsman of Ecuador became the entity Shower to the filed complaint. The Superintendency of Information and Communication SUPERCOM even produced a technical report. After the complaint in its wake more organizations come together forming about 49 organizations that support the legal process. Following this the Actor David Reinoso, threatened the organization and activist to initiate legal action against her, of course damage to the image of the comedy shows that produce.

International representation

Awards and honors