María Rachid (born 8 November 1974) is a politician, social leader of the human rights area and the collective LGBT community in Argentina. She served as vice-president of the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism from December 2010,[2] until 10 June 2011 when she was elected into the Buenos Aires City Legislature in the elections on 10 July 2011, and took office on 10 December.[3][4]

María Rachid
Legislator of the City of Buenos Aires
In office
10 December 2011 – 9 December 2015
Personal details
Born (1974-11-08) 8 November 1974 (age 50)
Mercedes, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Political partyEvita Movement (2012–present)[1]
Other political
affiliations
Front for Victory (2003–2017)
Frente de Todos (2019–present)
Residence(s)Buenos Aires, Argentina

Biography

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She studied law at Universidad de Belgrano, Western Connecticut State University in the United States and Kennedy University, but did not graduate.[5]

In 1996 she founded La Fulana (Community Space for Women who Love Women), where she coordinated workshops for study and reflection on discrimination, self-esteem, homophobia, family and other health issues such as HIV/AIDS, violence, motherhood, STIs, cancer, etc.

She was Coordinator of the Health, Press and Communication and Administration and Finance Areas of the Community Center. She designed rights and health campaigns for lesbians and bisexual women and participated in the elaboration of public policies and anti-discrimination bills that were presented to the most diverse administrative and legislative authorities.

In 2006 she was one of the founders of the Argentinean Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans (FALGBT), which brings together many sexual diversity organizations that campaign for the recognition of equal rights for LGBT people in Argentina.[6]

Ley de matrimonio igualitario

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On 14 February 2007, she filed with Claudia Castro the first judicial appeal to declare unconstitutional two articles of the civil code that prevented same-sex marriage.[7]

As president of the LGBT Federation, she spearheaded the "same rights, same names" campaign, which led to the passage of the "Equal Marriage Act" (which allows same-sex marriage) in 2010. Due to her constant militancy and her strong media presence throughout this process, Rachid became one of the leading figures in the broad movement that took part in the campaign for the sanction of this law.

In mid-2010 she founded the National Roundtable for Equality and Against Discrimination, which brings together representatives of various groups that have historically been discriminated against in Argentina, such as people of African descent, people with disabilities, the migrant community, indigenous peoples, and people living with HIV and AIDS.

On 22 December 2010, Rachid was appointed by the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as Vice President of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, where she had already served as coordinator of the National Sexual Diversity Program and as Coordinator of the Human Resources area. She resigned in June 2011 due to disagreements with journalist Claudio Morgado.[8]

María Rachid was elected legislator of the city of Buenos Aires by the Front for Victory on 10 July 2011, one month after her resignation from the vice-presidency of INADI.[9]

Legislative activity

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As a legislator, she presented a large number of projects to the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires, including a bill against institutional violence by the security forces, another project for the transfer and assignment of powers to investigate and judge crimes and contraventions committed in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, and a project for the regulation of assisted reproduction techniques, among others.[10] In April 2015, the anti-discrimination bill for the city was approved, and was promoted together with Deputy Daniel Lipovetzky.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Rachid se incorpora al Movimiento Evita". movimiento-evita.org.ar (in Spanish). 13 August 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  2. ^ Diario Página 12 (consultado el 15 de mayo de 2011)
  3. ^ http://www.lv12.com.ar/76562-acto-de-asuncion-maria-rachid-vicepresidenta-del-inadi.html[dead link]
  4. ^ "Movistar Store Argentina". store.movistar.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Maria Rachid: Mi Historia". 23 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  6. ^ ":: Federacion Argentina LGBT :: FALGBT ::". www.lgbt.org.ar. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Página/12 :: El país :: Llega el turno del matrimonio homosexual". www.pagina12.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Una legisladora K impulsa un subsidio para transexuales de más de 40 años". El Cronista (in European Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Las nuevas caras de la Legislatura". www.lanacion.com.ar (in Spanish). 12 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Legislatura de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires". 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  11. ^ "La Ciudad de Buenos Aires tiene su ley contra la discriminación". Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2020.