The associations LGBTIQA+ and Trans from Tenerife have registered jointly this Thursday in the Cabildo de Tenerife his withdrawal from the LGBTIQ+ Island Roundtable, “for the corporation’s support for holding a congress on women and sports where it was possible to verify the spread of trans-exclusionary hate speech” as they had already warned.
In a statement, the entities report that, with this action, “they are simply complying with the word given to public opinion barely a week ago, when they alerted about the situations that could occur in the III Women and Sports State Congress whose celebration supported the Cabildo de Tenerife, as has been confirmed by the collectives”.
According to the associations, during this congress the message was conveyed that “trans women are biological men who self-identify, that trans claims are based on an ideology that seeks to erase women or even that hoaxes were spread about the recently approved legislative framework that has no scientific basis”, they point out.
On the other hand, they indicate that they are studying the “unfortunate statements” made by the speakers during the panel on trans inclusion in sport and that they will transfer their full content to the Government of the Canary Islands and the Government of Spain so that they can initiate the corresponding disciplinary proceedings against the Cabildo and speakers on the application of trans legislation.
In the opinion of the entities, “the Cabildo has made a serious mistake by organizing a debate of these characteristics without counting on the leading entities in addressing these realities on the island, committing a betrayal that causes very serious damage to trans people.” and intersex, who are already in a serious situation of vulnerability”.
They also regret “the lack of vision on the part of the island’s political leaders who, despite having been notified in sufficient time of what could happen and did happen in this event, were not able to meet the requests of the groups to redirect a debate that in itself causes a lot of damage to the LGBTIQ+ collective and the feminist movement”.
The associations demand forceful measures from the vice president María Franquet and the CEO of diversity Nauzet Gugliotta, to “repair the damage caused to trans people and announce that, if they are not adopted before March 31, the date on which Transgender Day is celebrated of Trans Visibility, they will have no choice but to demand the resignation of both political leaders”.
They consider that only in this way “could the entities reconsider institutional relations with the Cabildo de Tenerife: making the political leaders of this serious outrage assume their responsibility and repair the terrible damage caused against trans people on the island, particularly to trans women and intersex athletes”.
The entities do appreciate the notable support they have received from LGBTIQ+ and feminist groups throughout the country, pointing out in particular the statements issued by the 8M Tenerife Feminist Platform, the LGTBI+ State Federation, the Trans Platform Federation and the Iberian Sports Association LGBTI+.
