Uruguay: Pastor accused of hate speech for criticizing gender ideology

As reported by Tele Doce on 2 February 2017, the pastor of Life Mission Church criticized the Ministry of Social Development's "Guide to education and sexual diversity" for promoting gender ideology and a radical sexual education. A number of organizations reacted negatively to this criticism and accused the pastor of hate speech and of fuelling discrimination, prejudice and violence. According to a report by Entorno Intelegente on 12 February 2017, legal action is likely to be taken against the pastor. Rossina Ramirez, working for World Watch Research, comments: "The right to religious freedom implies that a person has the right to express personal beliefs concerning political, social and other issues. To attack a person for criticizing gender ideology and its negative influence in schools would seem to be a violation of the exercise of freedom of speech. As in so many Latin American countries secular intolerance is also on the rise in Uruguay."