Jaime Parada

José Jaime Parada Hoyl (born November 2, 1977) is a Chilean gay rights activist and politician who became the first openly gay person elected to public office in Chile.

He served as the spokesperson for the Homosexual Movement of Integration and Liberation, the leading Chilean gay rights organization. He also served as councilman for his home commune of Providencia, from 2012 to 2020.

Biography Parada was born in the commune of Las Condes. His father is a Panamanian-Chilean veterinarian and his mother is a homemaker. He completed his secondary schooling at the Instituto Presidente Errázuriz, a state-subsidized Catholic boys school. He studied history at Finis Terrae University, graduating first in his class. In 2011, Parada began his career as a political activist, joining MOVILH and becoming its spokesperson. In March 2012, after the brutal beating of Daniel Zamudio by neo-Nazis because of his sexual orientation, Parada and MOVILH played an important role in securing legislation introducing severe penalties for hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation. That year, with the support of Marco Enríquez-Ominami's Progressive Party, Parada launched his candidacy for municipal councilman for the commune of Providencia, winning a four-year term to last until 2016. Parada was backed by Josefa Errázuriz, who successfully ran for mayor of Providencia, against the conservative incumbent, Cristián Labbé, whom Parada has referred to as a “recalcitrant fascist” for his support of the Pinochet regime. His victory makes him the first openly gay politician elected in Chilean history. Parada's election was part of a historic election season in which rightwing, mayors Labbé and of Independencia were defeated and the first two transgender women, Zuliana Araya in Valparaíso and Alejandra González in Lampa, were also elected.

Electoral history

2012 municipal election

2012 municipal election, for the municipal council of Providencia

(Candidates with more than 2% of the votes are listed.)