Page "Lesbian" Paragraph 58

Argentina was the first Latin American country with a gay rights group, Nuestro Mundo ( NM, or Our World ), created in 1969.

Six mostly secret organizations concentrating on gay or lesbian issues were founded around this time, but persecution and harassment were continuous and grew worse with the dictatorship of Jorge Rafael Videla in 1976, when all groups were dissolved in the Dirty War.

Lesbian rights groups have gradually formed since 1986 to build a cohesive community that works to overcome philosophical differences with heterosexual women.

The Latin American lesbian movement has been the most active in Mexico, but has encountered similar problems in effectiveness and cohesion.

While groups try to promote lesbian issues and concerns, they also face misogynistic attitudes from gay men and homophobic views from heterosexual women.

In 1977, Lesbos, the first lesbian organization for Mexicans, was formed.

Several incarnations of political groups promoting lesbian issues have evolved ; 13 lesbian organizations were active in Mexico City in 1997.

Ultimately, however, lesbian associations have had little influence both on the homosexual and feminist movements.