In this Pride Month, we highlight the role of pro bono work as a key tool for advancing equity and dignity for LGBTIQ+ people.
Pro bono work has a profound and transformative value: it brings justice to those who need it most and contributes, in a concrete way, to a more inclusive and equitable society. In Pride month, this work takes on a special relevance, as it invites us to reflect on the role we play as lawyers in the defense of the rights of LGTBIQ+ people.
At the end of 2024, the Senate of our country rejected public funding for hormone therapies for minors under 18 years of age. However, we started the year 2025 with an important sign of rights protection: the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional this norm, safeguarding access to hormone treatments for trans children and adolescents. This decision represented not only a legal victory, but also a firm step in the defense of the dignity and welfare of a historically marginalized group.
However, this episode reminds us that, despite the regulatory and social advances achieved in recent years, the fight against discrimination against LGTBIQ+ people continues to be a constant challenge. Setbacks and resistance have not disappeared.
In this context, Pro Bono work is presented as an essential tool to accompany these processes, allowing people belonging to the community to count on effective legal representation and professionals committed to equity. In doing so, we not only defend individual cases: we contribute to building a more inclusive and empathetic society.
Column written by:
Catalina Valdés | Pro Bono Coordinator | cvaldes@az.cl
