Sexual Democracia is a Chilean folk-rock band formed in 1988 in Valdivia by Miguel Barriga, Iván Briceño, Samuel Gallardo, Juan "Cordero" Paredes, Vicente Aguilera, Alberto Larraín, and Alexi Cárdenas. The band emerged during the final years of the Pinochet regime, with members being students at Universidad Austral de Chile. Their name was inspired by a parody show presented by Barriga, reflecting the tense atmosphere of the 1988 national referendum. Sexual Democracia quickly gained attention for their provocative name, which faced initial censorship attempts but ultimately led to their participation in university events. Los Chicos Buenos, their studio debut, came out in 1988, after which they relocated to Santiago and signed with the Alerce label. Released in 1990, their second LP Buscando Chilenos exceeded all expectations by selling over 100,000 copies, rapidly becoming one of the best-selling albums in Chilean rock. The album contained some of their most recognizable songs, including "Los pitutos," "Profanador de cunas," "Canción pacífico-violenta," "Esta noche ando trash," and "Regionalización." Their second album, 1992's Buscando Chilenos 2, achieved platinum status due to its strong sales. In 1992, they gained national exposure by performing at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, which marked a turning point in their career. The band's music evolved to incorporate more Latin American styles, exemplified by the cumbia song "Macondo" from the 1999 compilation, Macondus. They also made a significant cultural impact in Valdivia by supporting the movement to establish Los Ríos Region, separate from Los Lagos Region. Their song "Regionalización" became an anthem for this cause and celebrated the creation of Los Ríos Region in 2007. Over the following years, and despite several lineup changes, Miguel Barriga and Sexual Democracia continued to tour and record, releasing LPs like SXD.cl (2001), Buscando chilenos 4 (2010), and Blip 15 (2022).
