LGBTI Protesters Confront Chile's Homophobic Bus

A Catholic organization has faced off with LGBTI activists during demonstrations in the city of Santiago Monday.

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LGBTI members arrived in the square Monday morning on the blue “diversity bus.” The bus painted with the message,“The future of children is always tomorrow, tomorrow will be too late,” from Chilean Nobel Prize winner Gabriela Mistral.

The lesbian, trans-rights, and gay activists paraded in front of La Moneda to protest “homosexual ideologies” against their community and their children.

The diversity bus was launched in response to the so-called "freedom bus" of the ultra-right group Hazte Oir, or Make Yourself Heard.

"Since we learned that this bus, which was already in other countries with these messages of hatred towards diversity, was going to travel the streets of our country, we have expressed our opposition," said Erika Montecinos, director of the lesbian group Breaking The Silence, in reference to the international anti-homosexual group.

Within minutes the orange bus or the “freedom bus” arrived into the square with members of the international staunchly Catholic group Hazte Oir.

The members disembarked carrying signs with the words #ConMisHijosNoSeMetan (Don't Mess with My Children), “Estado + Familia” (State and Family), and "Nicolas has the right to a father and a mother."

The latter was in reference to a book, “Nicolas has the Right to Two Dads,” published in support of the Chilean Movement for Integration and Homosexual Liberation which promotes same-sex parenting.

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"We are asking for the preferential right of the parents ... that the Chilean government respects us, since we parents have not renounced the right to educate our children according to our values and principles," said Francisco Fritis, a spokesperson of Objecting Parents of Chile NGO.

According to witnesses, what began as a political demonstration exploded into an ugly fight with participants slinging insults such as “Pedophiles” and “family killers.” The main road was paralyzed and taxi drivers joined the fight until municipal police were required to break up the 300 mixed social activists using tear gas and water.

Rolando Jimenez, spokesperson of the Movement of Homosexual Integration and Liberation, defended the demonstrations stating the purpose of his bus was “to avoid running the road with impunity” by fighting those who don't respect human rights.

The spokesperson of the conservative freedom bus, Marcela Aranda, also defended their right to protest, arguing the state "can not force us to educate our children under the same logic."

Police report that seven demonstrators have been detained from both “Freedom” and “Diversity” parties for acts of aggression and damage to property.