Peruvian Economist Óscar Ugarteche, Advocate for Same-Sex Marriage, Dies at 76

Óscar Ugarteche, a prominent Peruvian economist and a key figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, has passed away at the age of 76. Ugarteche, who founded the Homosexual Movement of Lima (MOHL), dedicated years to a legal struggle to have his 2010 marriage to Mexican Fidel Aroche officially recognized in Peru. This effort faced significant hurdles, including rejection by the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec) and a 2020 ruling against it by the Constitutional Court. His passing was mourned by various organizations with which he collaborated. The National Autonomous University of Mexico, where Ugarteche worked at the Institute of Economic Research and coordinated the Latin American Economic Observatory (OBELA), expressed deep sadness over the loss of their "dear colleague and friend." The university also noted his 2021 National University Award for economic sciences research. The National Coordinator for Human Rights (CNDDHH) lauded Ugarteche's "bravery and conviction" in challenging barriers and expanding rights for diverse communities in Peru, a country where equality and inclusion remain pressing issues. The Communist Party of Peru - Patria Roja remembered him as a "distinguished intellectual, economist, university professor, and Peruvian leftist politician." The Editorial Fund of the Institute of Peruvian Studies highlighted his commitment, rigor, and creativity as a professional dedicated to understanding and improving Peru's reality.