Government headquarters in Tenerife raise the flag of diversity. Events for LGTBI+ Pride Day, commemorated yesterday, reached every corner of an Island increasingly aware of equality and sexual diversity, and increasingly united against hate speech.
The President of Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, attended the flag-raising ceremony for LGTBI+ Pride Day outside the Presidential building in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In statements to EFE, the Director General of Diversity, Celso Mendoza Negrín, stated after the flag was raised that “Canary Islands is a safe space for the community” and regarding the supposed increase in violence in schools due to discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity, he stated that “autonomous communities are working on different projects to reverse this situation.”
The spokesperson for the Diverse LGTBI Association, Sergio Siverio, stated that 10% of the calls to the 028 assistance number to help the community were made in the Canary Islands and “hate crimes continue to occur,” so he considers it essential to “continue to advocate for Pride Day.” Additionally, the spokesperson warned that members of the community “will continue to fight despite the rise of the far right and self-proclaimed exclusionary trans feminists.”
Tenerife raises the colours of sexual diversity / E. D.
Santa Úrsula
[–>
The City Hall of Santa Úrsula hosted the institutional event on International LGTBI Pride Day organized by the Asterisk Network, which includes more than a dozen institutions working with communities in favour of diversity, equal rights, and inclusion. The Asterisk Network is made up of the Tenerife City Councils of Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos, Garachico, El Tanque, Icod de los Vinos, San Juan de la Rambla, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Santa Úrsula, La Victoria de Acentejo, La Matanza de Acentejo, El Sauzal, El Rosario, and La Laguna, in addition to the Tenerife Island Council, as the funding institution, and the Diverse LGBTI Association, as the social entity that serves as the network’s secretariat.
The mayor of Santa Úrsula, Juan Acosta, highlighted the importance of this celebration “to break any type of discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.” “The collaboration of public administrations with social agents is essential to build an egalitarian society, free from prejudices. It is our task to work hand in hand with communities to achieve these goals and ensure that their stigmatization is a thing of the past,” he emphasized.
Granadilla de Abona
[–>
The municipality of Granadilla joined the fight for LGTBIQA+ education, rights, and solidarity. It showed its full support and backing for the community. The councillor for Equality and Diversity, Ángela Villalba, was responsible for reading the institutional manifesto, accompanied by the other members of the municipal corporation, administration staff, and the general public, in the Town Hall square.
Ángela Villalba argued that this declaration serves as a tribute and recognition to the “relentless” efforts of individuals, social agents, entities, organizations, and institutions who “have dedicated their work to a more just, equal, inclusive society respectful of human rights.”
Tenerife raises the colours of sexual diversity / E. D.
Tacoronte
[–>
By reading the Proudly Free manifesto, as a sign of support and respect for the LGTBI community, the Tacoronte City Council certified its midday action plan yesterday in favour of greater visibility and awareness of the rights of gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and intersex individuals. The event took place outside the Town Hall, with broad representation from the municipal Corporation and administration staff, led by the city’s mayor, Sandra Izquierdo, and the Deputy Mayor, José Caro.
San Miguel de Abona
[–>
Other municipalities also joined this commemoration, which recalls the riots that took place at Stonewall in New York in 1969 against rejection of sexual diversity. This is the case of San Miguel de Abona, in southern Tenerife. The San Miguel City Council, through the Equality Council, has launched the Proud San Miguel project and joined this day under the motto Feel the pride.
El Rosario
[–>
The mayor of El Rosario, Escolástico Gil, led a concentration in front of the Town Hall for tolerance and the defence of freedom, equality, and respect for all sexual orientations, devoid of any prejudice.
On the left, the rainbow flag shines at the University of La Laguna. Above, Canary Islands’ President, Fernando Clavijo, raises the LGTBI+ flag. Below, events for sexual diversity celebrated in Santa Úrsula and Granadilla de Abona.
