Paper short abstract:

Using observations and interviews conducted in Bogota in 2015, this paper analyses the Bogota, Colombian community and the considerable reform the city and its citizens have undergone in relation to the LGBT population, after High Court rulings and changes in Government Policy.

Paper long abstract:

In many developed countries significant reforms in LGBT rights have been driven by changes in popular attitudes, alongside political activism which has often led to law and policy reform. Colombia provides an interesting example of a counter trend, where High Court rulings and changes in government policy have seen to drive community changes in attitudes towards LGBT. This paper conducts a historical analysis of Colombian law and policy toward LGBT issues, and compares the literature of the historical analysis with recent ethnographic research analysing the Bogota environment. Observations were conducted in Bogota from January - May 2015, throughout the Bogota music scene and interviews were conducted with various LGBT stakeholders about the change in their experience and the treatment of the community post law and policy change. The paper concludes that the Bogota community has come a long way in the last two decades, becoming a more accepting community which can be largely attributed to the change in Government Policy and National High Court decisions although there is still discrimination within and between the Bogota and LGBT community. These findings provide an example of how morals, laws and policy can influence the population and create positive change within society; suggesting that a top-down governmental approach can be highly influential to the population.