SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 14th May. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The organizations Aperttura, Caminar Intersex, Canarypride, Chrysallis Canarias, Diversas, Fundación Pedro Zerolo, Libertrans, Transboys and Transwomen have opted to sever ties with the Cabildo of Tenerife in a unanimous stand against their “political inaction”, noting that the island’s administration “has failed to implement any diversity policies during its year in office.
This decision was communicated during a meeting with Patricia León, the insular director of Equality and Diversity, where the groups reiterated their calls for a response to the specific demands of the LGBT+ community, in light of the “shameful silence” from the Cabildo’s president, Rosa Dávila. Despite having authority over diversity matters, Dávila “has ignored three meeting requests over the past year.”
In a joint statement, the LGBT+ organizations highlighted the absence of progress since the previous administration’s controversial support for a congress with trans-exclusionary views in women’s sports. In November 2023, these groups proposed a motion for the inclusion of ‘trans’ individuals in sports and the condemnation of transphobia, which Patricia León initially committed to but is now claiming it cannot be done.
To re-establish relations with the Tenerife Council, the motion must be deliberated and endorsed by the corporation before the ‘International LGBT+ Pride Day’ on 28th June, with the added condition of President Rosa Dávila meeting with the associations.
The associations lament the clear “political inaction” of the island’s administration, asserting that “no diversity policies have been advanced in a year”. They express concern that crucial time is being wasted on the implementation of the Island Strategic Framework for addressing LGBT+ diversity, a plan they formulated during the previous mandate but has since been met with silence.
Emphasising the need for tangible actions beyond mere gestures of support for the LGBT+ community, the groups demand a “firm commitment” from the new island government to uphold their rights, rectify past harm, and usher in a new phase of collaboration.
