Uruguay's Di
Uruguay’s Diversity March Challenges New Left-Wing Government to Uphold Promises
In a vibrant demonstration that combined celebration with calls for action, thousands of people participated in the 2025 Diversity March through downtown Montevideo. Under the rallying cry “If there are rights, let it be known,” the march underscored the community’s demand for the new left-wing government led by President Yamandú Orsi to translate rhetoric into tangible progress.
The event unfolded against a backdrop of political change following the return of a leftist administration after years of setbacks faced by LGBTQ organizations. Participants marched from Plaza Libertad to Plaza 1er de Mayo, blending festivity with serious demands for greater equality and rights fulfillment.
Nicolás Oreiro, spokesperson for Colectivo Ovejas Negras, articulated several key demands: enforcing quotas for public sector jobs targeting trans, Afro, and disabled populations; ensuring compliance with the Comprehensive Trans Law by health institutions; and making the Uruguay Social Card more effective as a lifeline for vulnerable trans individuals. Oreiro emphasized that there should be no room for mere discourse without concrete action.
The march participants welcomed President Orsi’s opening of dialogue spaces previously denied under former president Luis Lacalle Pou’s administration but remained cautious, underscoring that gestures must lead to solid policies. Despite Uruguay’s progressive legal framework, the implementation has been hindered by a lack of resources and political will—issues the march aimed to highlight.
Human Rights Secretary Collette Spinetti responded to these calls with reassurances about efforts to rebuild trust and engage communities through initiatives like “En Cada Territorio, Más Derechos” (More Rights in Every Territory) and “Territorios Diversos en Diálogo” (Diverse Territories in Dialogue). These programs are designed to foster understanding and address the needs of diverse territories.
Spinetti stressed that ensuring LGBTIQ+ rights translate into daily life improvements necessitates a comprehensive approach. This involves regulatory reviews, removal of barriers to right exercises, and awareness campaigns, with education at its core to combat hate speech and promote equality across educational systems.
The march concluded with an international demand for condemning what organizers describe as genocide in Gaza by Israel, linking local LGBTQ struggles with broader global justice movements. The demonstration sent a clear message: while formal equality exists on paper in Uruguay, the movement seeks real change beyond empty promises.
President Orsi’s administration faces the challenge of living up to its allyship declarations and ensuring that progressive laws translate into lived experiences for those facing exclusion, violence, or discrimination. This Diversity March was not just a call to action but a litmus test for a government’s commitment to equality and inclusion, demanding accountability and tangible change in Uruguay.