A Two Front War
The Story of Chalán's LGBTI Community During the War in Colombia
Unfortunately, "coming out" can still be very difficult in many parts of the world. Leave alone when you have to go through this struggle while at the same time being victim to war and violence. This is the story of the LGBTI community in the small town of Chalán, Colombia. Catalina, Germán and Carlos tell us how they had to fight a war at two fronts: discrimination, exclusion and verbal abuse on one side, violence and physical abuse on the other. Diego tells his story through the means of song, and Kevin and Yasmin give us a glimpse of the real face of Chalán: tasty food, dancing and smiles.
Their story is one of strength, resilience and perseverance. It's also a story of hope and inspiration, showing us that even in the worst of circumstances, love and compassion can defeat anything.
A Two-Front War
An Acapella
A Recipe From Chalán
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A House of Colours in the Midst of A Grey Sky: the Story of Chalán and its LGBTI Community
Chalán is a town that, due to its geographical location, has been in the midst of armed conflict for many years. Chalán is located at the foothills of the Montes de María mountain region and has been in the crossfire of the war between guerrillas, paramilitaries, drug cartels and state forces. This crossfire has resulted in human rights violations against the population.
One of the most notorious terrorist acts experienced by the population of Chalán was the so-called "donkey bomb". The FARC filled a donkey with explosive devices and blew it up in a police station, killing 11 policemen. This terrorist act not only affected the municipality by the violence, but also caused stigmatisation that followed the villagers for years, as they were considered responsible for the attack. It was not until 2022, 26 years after that terrifying day (March 12, 1996) that the truth came to light, confirming what the inhabitants of Chalán had been trying to prove for years. They were not responsible for the terrorist act, nor were they accomplices to it. On the contrary, they were victims of it.
Today, Chalán tries to change its image and become a tourist destination known for its natural and cultural resources. They want to be recognised for the "Coloso" waterfalls and multicoloured mountains.
Today there are many organisations that are working hard to make Chalán a town where everyone feels welcome and safe. On this occasion we were able to visit two collectives that are making Chalán a town for everyone. These are La Casa Del Bonche and La Casa De Los Colores, two activist groups whose main objective is to empower the LGBTI community and generate spaces for the population and this community to meet in order to create a society of peace, respect and compassion.
During our visit we had the opportunity to listen to different stories by members of these two groups. First we met Carlos, Cata and German, who told us about the reality of being part of the LGBTI community during the war in Chalán. Later we were treated to an acapella song about the life of a boy who after being abandoned by his family had to survive life on the streets in the midst of conflict. Finally, we got to see and taste typical dances and dishes of the region, which gave us a small insight into the real face of Chalán.
We thank the community of Chalán for welcoming us and sharing with us their stories of resilience. We will be back!
