In Pride Month, let us remember that pro bono work has the ability to drive concrete change, enabling us to protect and empower all people equally.
The Stonewall Inn Riots marked a significant turning point in the history of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement both in the United States and around the world. Not only did they generate greater visibility and awareness, but they also laid the groundwork for significant legislative changes and inclusive public policies over time.
The journey has been long and complex. The Stonewall riots, which occurred on June 28, 1969, marked a historic milestone. Exactly 52 years later, on December 10, 2021, Chile enacted the Equal Marriage Law. This law not only legalizes same-sex marriage, but also explicitly recognizes the filial rights of same-sex families.
Although regulatory change was extremely slow, it is important to reflect on the role of pro bono work in access to justice and the strengthening of community solidarity. From our perspective, this effort promotes inclusion.
In this month we fondly remember all the lawyers who selflessly decided to put up a fight and challenge the legislative reality of our country by taking on cases that allowed us to set the legal precedents that later led to effective regulatory change.
Pro bono work can significantly change realities. Let us not forget the ruling issued by the Seventh Civil Court of Santiago in 2017 that allowed the recognition of two fathers in the birth certificate of the minor or the historic ruling of the Attilio case in 2020, where filiation rights in favor of two mothers are expressly recognized.
In Pride month, let us remember that pro bono work has the capacity to drive concrete change, allowing us to protect and empower all people equally. This effort brings us ever closer to a more just and equitable society.
Column written by:
Antonia Nudman | Senior Associate | IP, Tech and Data Group | anudman@az.cl
Catalina Valdés | Associate | Penal Group | cvaldes@az.cl
