Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 26 Mar. (Europa Press) –
The Vox parliamentary group has introduced a proposition not of law in the Canary Parliament this Wednesday aimed at revoking the trans laws in the islands. During her defence, the deputy, Paula Jover, argued against “the public fighting which is a propaganda of what is being stated,” maintaining that “boys have a penis and girls have a vulva”: “The outcome of any analytical tests will remain unchanged.”
The non-Vox proposition was unanimously dismissed by the parliamentary groups of the Regional Chamber on Wednesday, which stood in defence of the rights attained against Vox. “In the face of their denialism, we advocate for more rights, more democracy, more freedom, and recognition of the right to exist, to love, and to express gender identity with complete freedom,” stated socialist deputy Elena Máñez.
“The results of any analytical tests will not change, as these will always confirm that a person’s identity is established at birth. Nothing can alter what a forensic anthropologist certifies, because at the moment of death, the sex will be recorded as male or female based on what was determined chromosomally at the beginning of life,” continued Jover during the defence of the NLP.
The deputy emphasised the importance of not dismissing what she believes to be an “unalterable truth,” which she claims is at the mercy of “political whims or trends.” “This is detrimental to minors and women,” she asserted.
Additionally, Jover indicated that there is an attempt to “denaturalise” a fundamental process of humanity, asserting the need to combat “this denialism that disregards nature itself, the dignity of individuals, which surpasses all other concerns.”
Political Groups United
Following her address, Raúl Acosta Armas, from the identical Herreña group, remarked on the importance of “history lessons,” noting that “errors tend to recur, and often we find ourselves repeating them.” “We must unite to continue defending our democracy, otherwise, we risk permitting past mistakes to resurface,” he urged other parliamentary groups.
“The law you wish to repeal is literally the Law of Social Equality, which safeguards against discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual characteristics. Equality and non-discrimination are two concepts that I know provoke irritation for you, but for that irritation, allow me to propose a remedy – a remedy grounded in respect,” Acosta added.
Melodie Mendoza, representing the Gomera Socialist Group, expressed her pride in having collaborated with the LGTBI colleague to secure the passage of that Canarian law, which “was not brought into this Parliament by any political force, but by the collective itself.”
She recalled previously “overlooking” the “suffering and terror” that trans individuals continue to endure daily, perceiving much ignorance in Vox’s proposal. “I encourage you to engage with the collective and understand their reality first-hand,” she advised.
Mendoza took the opportunity to clarify that the Canarian voters of Vox have already made it known that the legislative norm “will not abolish any existing law, nor does this law detract from us as a society.” Thus, she defended that this rule “only serves to rectify certain inequities that are utterly unjust to any human being in the year 2025.”
From Nueva Canarias, Carmen Rosa Hernández, called for “caution” in forming alliances “with extreme right groups,” referring to pacts with the party in the Canary Islands. “I mention this because while we openly condemn Vox’s attitude and their intransigence aimed at dividing our society and stripping the LGTBIQ+ population of their rights, we find ourselves negotiating governance with them,” she stated.
Luz Reverón, from the Popular Parliament Group, elaborated on the necessity of the trans law to ensure “legal dignity and equal opportunities for all individuals, irrespective of their gender identity.” In this regard, she reminded the deputies from the mixed group that “legislation is not about imposing personal beliefs, but about guaranteeing rights since dignity and liberty are concepts that should not be debated, but rather protected.”
José Manuel Bermúdez from the Canary Coalition Parliamentary Group, accused Vox of “ignorance” and perpetuating a cycle of “suffering, marginalisation, and discrimination” through the proposition not of law presented on Wednesday. “What you propose lacks a legal foundation, driven by subjective opinions without substantial data. It serves only to hinder progress that has been achieved.”
Elena Máñez, from the Socialist Group, reminded Vox that “in the presence of their denialism, we demand more rights, more democracy, and more freedom, acknowledging the right to exist, to love, and to assert gender identity with absolute freedom.” “You seem to yearn for the Franco dictatorship, when homosexuals faced persecution and were condemned to forced labour, just as occurred here, in Tefía.”
