Lawmakers in Chile have responded to
the murder of Daniel Zamudio by passing a gay-inclusive
anti-discrimination law.
Zamudio died March 27 from injuries he
received during an attack in a park in Santiago on March 3. Police
have arrested 4 suspects who have been charged with beating Zamudio
for an hour, burning him with cigarettes and carving Nazi symbols
into his body. Officials believe the 24-year-old Zamudio was
targeted because he is gay.
The House of Deputies this week joined
the Senate in approving the anti-discrimination bill which was first
proposed in 2005. Evangelical churches had lobbied heavily against
the measure, arguing it would lead to the eventual legalization of
gay marriage, the AP
reported.
Discrimination made illegal by the law
is defined as “any distinction, exclusion or restriction that lacks
reasonable justification, committed by agents of the state or
individuals, and that causes the deprivation, disturbance or
threatens the legitimate exercise of fundamental rights.”
President Sebastian Pinera had urged
lawmakers to approve the measure.
“Since Daniel's aggressive murder
happened, we've been learning how we are going to construct effective
protected society with more love, where no one, no one is
discriminated against for any reason. Because all Chileans have the
same rights,” Vice President Rodrigo Hinzpeter told reporters.