When another year comes to celebrate diversity and visibility; to claim the freedom of being, feeling and loving; and to demand equal rights for millions of people around the world, we realise that those barriers that were thought to be overcome and those dark times that we thought were only memories of the past, are once again threatening those who claim what they are: human beings born free and equal with the same dignity and the same rights as any other person in the world.

Those who, for decades, fought for the freedom that is now once again at risk, contemplate with regret how all the advances achieved at the cost of their freedom and, sometimes, of their own lives, are once again at serious risk of disappearing. Without all those people who fought in the darkest times, none of the LGTBIQA+ rights would have been possible. Thanks to their efforts and suffering, we have been able to be freer and more equal in the diversity of our society today.

Without a doubt, today is a day to reaffirm the defence of freedom and equality for all people, whoever they are and without distinctions of any kind. In these times of uncertainty, it is our moral duty as a society to always stand with those who have suffered rejection from their environment and their families just for being, feeling or loving differently, but with the same rights as anyone else in the world. Millions of people are affected daily by the prejudices and stereotypes that dehumanise them by their peers. All this thanks to the support of ideologies that deny equality, freedom, the rights to which every person is entitled, as well as the inviolability of human dignity, which is the source of each and every one of the rights of every person. Of everyone, without distinctions or exceptions of any kind.

Just when we thought that the Covid-19 pandemic had been a turning point to begin to improve as a society based on empathy and respect, we have realised that the «pandemic of hate» is still very present and continues to strike the LGTBIQA+ Collective systematically against their most basic rights and with increasing force. Millions of people have seen how the loneliness and darkness of the wardrobe have returned to hover over them and have once again suffered the rejection and abandonment of their families. Where they should have received only love and understanding, they have received hate and pain. Many of them have had to leave their homes without the slightest protection because, although we talk about how we are a «full and advanced democracy», there are hardly any specific protocols of action adapted to LGTBIQA+ people, including minors, which, on the other hand, are hardly applied adequately.

The reports that periodically show the increase in cases of aggression in different parts of the world are well known. A systematic violation of rights that, despite the many advances and conquests that have taken place since the end of the 1960s, continues to happen in those countries where, for a sector of society, raising a multicoloured flag is still a cause for scandal. A flag that embraces everyone, a flag that never excludes anyone, not even those who detest it so vehemently seeking to spread its message of hatred as criminal as it is unacceptable in a democracy. A FLAG THAT, THE MORE THEY BAN IT, THE MORE IT WILL HANG IN OUR WINDOWS AND ON OUR FAÇADES.

As it is, in nearly 70 countries today, more than a third of all the countries in the world, homosexuality is still a crime. In 2 of the countries it is de facto illegal, in 30 countries it carries a prison sentence of up to 8 years, in 27 countries it is punishable by life imprisonment and in 11 countries it is punishable by life imprisonment, which is effectively enforced in 5 countries. Moreover, according to data from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), sexual orientation and gender identity is the second cause behind reported hate crimes. For this reason, we have to show our strongest repulsion towards all forms of violence and reject those ideological currents and other theories without any scientific basis that question, trivialise and even deny the human rights and discriminatory realities that affect LGTBIQA+ people on a daily basis, attacking and denying their inviolable human dignity.

The increase in cases of aggressions, both physical and verbal, towards LGTBIQA+ people, especially towards Trans and Non-Binary People, of any age and place of origin, is highly worrying. In this sense, the role of Public Administrations, together with the collaboration of Civil Society entities, is essential to fight against all forms of violence, hatred and discrimination. In particular, it is necessary to condemn any attempt to give a green light to the so-called «conversion therapies», forced sterilisations and surgical interventions on intersex minors, which are totally contrary to the dignity of the person, to the fundamental right to the free development of the personality and, therefore, inadmissible in a democracy considered to be an advanced democracy. 

It is true, violence, hatred and discrimination are present in our society and to deny it is an act of cynicism. They exist in all their forms and in aspects as essential as access to the labour market under equal conditions, access to decent housing, access to Health Services and other Public Services adapted to particular needs and, particularly worryingly, in the field of Education which, without doubt, is one of the essential pillars in the fight against all forms of discrimination and, particularly, against the discrimination suffered by minors from the LGTBIQA+ Collective through different forms of harassment and cyber-bullying on the grounds of their sexual orientation and identity or gender expression. For this reason, we must be very aware that we cannot allow any act of discrimination or any form of hate speech to be normalised. If we allow it, we will also have to take responsibility for any form of violence that results from these acts.

If we want to ensure the full guarantee of the exercise of the inherent rights of any person, regardless of their orientation, sexual identity or gender expression, a coordinated response between the different public administrations, law enforcement agencies and entities representing civil society is absolutely essential. Similarly, we must continue to insist on a cross-cutting approach in all areas and especially in Education, Health and Employment, where effective measures to prevent all forms of discriminatory and violent behaviour are still urgent and necessary. But, beyond declarations and institutional acts, real commitments must be demanded to respond to the victims of aggressions and reduce the levels of under-reporting which, in some areas, exceed 90% of the total number of cases affecting LGTBIQA+ people. All institutions, whether local, regional or national, have the obligation to remove all obstacles to equal treatment and to carry out all necessary measures to eradicate violence, hatred and discrimination. This is clearly determined by the competences attributed to them by law. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES.

At this point, we must remember those who belong to other minorities within the LGTBIQA+ Collective itself and who suffer higher levels of discrimination and violence under different forms of multiple discrimination by living an identity reality of an intersectional nature due to their ethnic, national or cultural origin. In this sense, it is unacceptable that from within the Collective itself there are currents of unsupportive oppression towards other people through patriarchal, racist and xenophobic behaviour towards LGTBIQA+ migrants and refugees. The same applies to those who suffer discrimination within the Collective itself on the grounds of having some kind of functional, intellectual or sensory diversity or who, from positions arising from heteronormative homonationalism, are victims of misogynist behaviour that makes lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and intersex women invisible, denying them protection and the free exercise of their most basic rights.  

Particularly worrying is the situation experienced by transgender people who, without a doubt, are the ones who suffer most from situations of harassment, persecution and unjust criminalisation. All this, without forgetting the aggressions, both physical and verbal, within their usual family and social environment, as well as the high levels of social exclusion and vulnerability. Thus, Transgender people are the ones who suffer the most from enormous obstacles to access the labour market, to healthcare adapted to their needs, the ones who suffer the most within an Education System that has enormous deficiencies in terms of inclusion and respect for affective-sexual diversity, the ones who have the most obstacles to access decent housing and, consequently, the ones who suffer the most from stigma and social rejection that make it impossible for them to exercise all their rights as members of society.  

In this sense, contrary to what certain sectors of this false trans exclusionary «feminism» proclaim, Trans People are not «a theory», they are not the product of an imposed «ideology», nor are they an «incongruity». Trans people ARE, EXIST and are entitled to all inherent rights as human beings. With their demands they do not burden feminism; on the contrary, their contribution enriches the struggle for feminism. Their contribution enriches the struggle for equality among all people by providing tools that allow us to continue working for a more egalitarian and inclusive society. A more plural, free, fair, diverse, democratic and advanced society. In short, their contribution enables our democracy to become ever more complete. Your fight for equality must be the fight for equality for all women, for all men, among all women and among all men. Their courage and determination fill us with DEEP PRIDE and, for this reason, the exercise of all their inherent rights MUST BE FULLY GUARANTEED. Let us not forget that, in any self-respecting democratic and advanced society, the right to free development of the personality is an ABSOLUTELY UNQUESTIONABLE right. And the reason why it is unquestionable lies in the fact that this right to the free development of the personality stems from the inviolable human dignity, of which every person is the possessor, and which is the source from which all the rights inherent to the human being emanate. For this reason, there can be no distinction in this respect and no room for debate. 

For all that has been said so far, a regulatory framework that recognises the human and fundamental rights of the LGTBIQA+ Community in all nations of the world is absolutely essential. Legislation that protects and guarantees the exercise of all rights and prosecutes any form of violence, hatred and discrimination based on orientation, sexual identity or gender expression. Until this legal framework is achieved, which must come from the heart of the International Community through international treaties binding on all States, we will continue to denounce and stand on the side of the LGTBIQA+ Collective against all forms of violence, hatred and discrimination. 

We must commit ourselves as a society and work for the freedom, equality and dignity of every person, starting in our homes, with our families, in our neighbourhoods, in our schools and colleges, in our villages, in our towns and in our cities. Only in this way will we get the response that will enable us to shape the Assemblies and Parliaments around the world. We must do so in the absolute conviction that Humanity, in all its richness and diversity, is undoubtedly our greatest and most valuable heritage. And, consequently, it is our right, but also our duty, to defend Humanity from any attack that questions, trivialises or denies the rights and inviolable dignity of any person, whoever they may be and wherever they may be in the world. 

The shadows of the past alert us to the consequences of not paying attention to those actions that led to the most abominable of aberrations being committed against Humanity itself. Those shadows of the past cannot return, occupy our present and condition the future of our society. If we allow them to do so, we will have to acknowledge our failure once again. 

Therefore, if we really want to build a better future, we have to join forces and stand up to those who seek to destroy what has been built, to those who seek to curtail rights, to those who seek to implant a society based on ignorance that leads to prejudice and then to hatred.

Let us do it not only today but every day of the year, let us do it without having doubts that we are doing what is right, let us do it in the belief that the right to be, to feel and to love are also inherent rights of any person, let us do it from the conviction that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Without exceptions.

Because LGTBIQA+ Rights ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!

FOR FREEDOM!

FOR DIGNITY!

FOR EQUALITY!

FOR DIVERSITY!

HAPPY PRIDE DAY!

LET’S COVER THE FACADES!

(Escrito en 🇪🇸🇲🇽 – Written in – 🇬🇧🇺🇸 )

🇪🇸ESPAÑOL🇲🇽

(Día Internacional del Orgullo LGBTIQA+)

Cuando un año más llega el momento de celebrar la diversidad y la visibilidad; de reivindicar la libertad para ser, para sentir y para amar; y de exigir la igualdad de derechos para millones de personas en todo el mundo, nos damos cuenta de que aquellas barreras que se creían superadas y aquellos tiempos oscuros que pensábamos que solo eran recuerdos del pasado, vuelven a amenazar a quienes reivindican lo que son: seres humanos nacidos libres e iguales con la misma dignidad y los mismos derechos que cualquier otra persona en el mundo.

Quienes, durante décadas, lucharon por la libertad que ahora vuelve a estar en riesgo, contemplan con pesadumbre cómo todos los avances logrados a costa de su libertad y, a veces, de su propia vida, vuelven a estar en serio riesgo de desaparecer. Sin todas aquellas personas que lucharon en los tiempos más oscuros, ninguno de los derechos del colectivo LGTBIQA+ habría sido posible. Gracias a su esfuerzo y sufrimiento, hemos podido ser más libres e iguales en la diversidad de nuestra sociedad actual.

Sin duda, hoy es un día para reafirmar la defensa de la libertad y de la igualdad de todas las personas, sean quienes sean y sin distinciones de ningún tipo. En estos momentos de incertidumbre, es nuestro deber moral como sociedad estar siempre junto a quienes han sufrido el rechazo de su entorno y de sus familias únicamente por ser, sentir o amar de forma diferente, pero con igual derecho que cualquier otra persona en el mundo. Millones de personas se ven a diario afectadas por los prejuicios y estereotipos que los deshumanizan por parte de sus semejantes. Todo ello gracias al respaldo de ideologías que niegan la igualdad, la libertad, los derechos de los que toda persona es titular, así como la inviolabilidad de la dignidad humana, que es la fuente de todos y cada uno de los derechos de toda persona. De todas, sin distinciones ni excepciones de ninguna clase.

Cuando creíamos que la pandemia del Covid-19 había supuesto un punto de inflexión para empezar a mejorar como sociedad desde la empatía y el respeto, nos hemos dado cuenta de que la «pandemia del odio» sigue muy presente y continúa golpeando al Colectivo LGTBIQA+ de forma sistemática en contra de sus derechos más elementales y cada vez con más fuerza. Millones de personas han visto cómo la soledad y la oscuridad del armario han vuelto a cernirse sobre ellos y han vuelto a sufrir el rechazo y el abandono de sus familias. Allá donde deberían recibir únicamente amor y comprensión, han recibido odio y dolor. Muchas de ellas han tenido que abandonar sus hogares sin contar con la más mínima protección porque, aunque se nos llena la boca diciendo que somos una «democracia plena y avanzada», apenas existen protocolos específicos de actuación adaptados a las personas LGTBIQA+, menores de edad incluidos, que, por otro lado, apenas se aplican de forma adecuada.

Son de sobra conocidos los informes que periódicamente muestran el aumento de los casos de agresión en distintas partes del mundo. Una vulneración sistemática de derechos que, a pesar de los muchos avances y conquistas que se han producido desde finales de la década de los 60, sigue sucediendo en aquellos países en donde para un sector de la sociedad izar una bandera multicolor es aún motivo de escándalo. Una bandera que abraza a toda persona, una bandera que nunca excluye a nadie, ni siquiera a quienes la detestan con tanta vehemencia buscando extender su mensaje de odio tan criminal como inaceptable en democracia. UNA BANDERA QUE, MIENTRAS MÁS LA PROHIBAN, MÁS COLGARÁ DE NUESTRAS VENTANAS Y DE NUESTRAS FACHADAS.

Así las cosas, en la actualidad en cerca de 70 países, más de un tercio de todos los países del mundo, la homosexualidad sigue siendo un delito. En 2 de los países es ilegal de facto, en 30 países conlleva penas de prisión de hasta 8 años, en 27 países es castigada con cadena perpetua y en 11 países la condena que puede llegar a imponerse es la de cadena perpetua y que es aplicada de forma efectiva en 5 países. Además, de acuerdo con los datos de la Organización para la Seguridad y la Cooperación en Europa (OSCE), la orientación sexual y la identidad de género son la segunda causa que está detrás de los delitos de odio denunciados. Por esta razón, tenemos que mostrar nuestra repulsa más enérgica hacia toda forma de violencia y rechazar aquellas corrientes ideológicas y demás teorías sin base científica alguna que cuestionan, trivializan e incluso niegan los derechos humanos y las realidades discriminatorias que afectan diariamente a las personas del Colectivo LGTBIQA+ atacando y negando su dignidad humana inviolable.

Es altamente preocupante el incremento de los casos de agresiones, tanto físicas como verbales, hacia las personas del Colectivo LGTBIQA+, muy especialmente hacia las Personas Trans y Personas No Binarias, de cualquier edad y lugar de origen. En este sentido, el papel de las Administraciones Públicas, junto con la colaboración de entidades de la Sociedad Civil, es del todo esencial para luchar contra toda forma de violencia, odio y discriminación. De forma particular, hay que condenar cualquier intento de dar carta de naturaleza a las denominadas “terapias de conversión”, a las esterilizaciones forzadas y a las intervenciones quirúrgicas en menores intersexuales y que son totalmente contrarias a la dignidad de la persona, al derecho fundamental al libre desarrollo de la personalidad y, por tanto, inadmisibles en una democracia considerada como una democracia avanzada. 

Es cierto, la violencia, el odio y la discriminación están presentes en nuestra sociedad y negarlo supone un acto de cinismo. Existen en todas sus formas y en aspectos tan esenciales como en el acceso al mercado laboral en condiciones de igualdad, en el acceso a la vivienda digna, en el acceso a unos Servicios Sanitarios y demás Servicios Públicos adaptados a las necesidades particulares y, de forma especialmente preocupante, en el ámbito de la Educación que, sin duda, es uno de los pilares esenciales para luchar contra toda forma de discriminación y, particularmente, contra la que sufren los menores del Colectivo LGTBIQA+ a través de distintas formas de acoso y ciberacoso por razón de su orientación e identidad sexual o expresión de género. Por esta razón, debemos ser muy conscientes de que no podemos permitir que se normalice ningún acto de discriminación ni tampoco ninguna forma de discurso de odio. De permitirlo, también tendremos que asumir la responsabilidad de cualquier forma de violencia que de estos actos se derive.

Si queremos asegurar la plena garantía en cuanto al ejercicio de los derechos inherentes de cualquier persona, sin importar su orientación, identidad sexual o expresión de género, resulta del todo esencial una respuesta coordinada entre las distintas Administraciones Públicas, las Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad y las entidades representantes de la sociedad civil. De forma similar, hay que seguir insistiendo en un enfoque transversal en todos los ámbitos y muy especialmente en la Educación, Sanidad y Empleo donde siguen siendo urgentes y necesarias medidas eficaces que eviten toda forma de conducta discriminatoria y violenta. Pero, más allá de las declaraciones y actos institucionales, deben exigirse compromisos reales para dar respuesta a las víctimas de agresiones y reducir los niveles de infradenuncia que, en algunas zonas, superan el 90% del conjunto total de casos que afectan a personas del Colectivo LGTBIQA+. Todas las instituciones, ya sean de carácter local, regional o nacional, tienen la obligación de eliminar todos los obstáculos para conseguir la igualdad de trato y de llevar a cabo cuantas medidas sean necesarias para erradicar la violencia, el odio y la discriminación. Las competencias que atribuye la Ley así lo determinan claramente. NO EXISTEN EXCUSAS.

En este punto, debemos recordar a quienes pertenecen a otras minorías dentro del propio Colectivo LGTBIQA+ y que sufren mayores niveles de discriminación y violencia bajo distintas formas de discriminación múltiple al vivir una realidad identitaria de carácter interseccional por razón de su origen étnico, nacional o cultural. En este sentido, no es admisible que desde el propio Colectivo existan corrientes de opresión insolidaria hacia otras personas mediante comportamientos patriarcales, racistas y xenófobos sobre personas migrantes y refugiadas LGTBIQA+. Igualmente, sucede con aquellas personas que sufren la discriminación dentro del propio Colectivo por razón de padecer alguna clase de diversidad funcional, intelectual o sensorial o que, desde posturas surgidas de un homonacionalismo heteronormativo, son víctimas de conductas misóginas que invisibilizan a las mujeres lesbianas, bisexuales, transexuales e intersexuales negándoles la protección y el libre ejercicio de sus derechos más elementales.  

Particularmente preocupante es la situación que viven las Personas Trans que, sin duda, son quienes más sufren las situaciones de acoso, persecución y criminalización injustas. Todo ello, sin olvidar las agresiones, tanto físicas como verbales, dentro de su entorno familiar y social habitual además de los altos niveles de exclusión y vulnerabilidad social. Así pues, son las Personas Trans las que más sufre de enormes trabas para acceder al mercado laboral, a una Sanidad adaptada a sus necesidades, las que más sufren dentro de un Sistema Educativo que cuenta con enormes deficiencias en cuanto a la inclusión y el respeto hacia la Diversidad afectivo-sexual, las que más impedimentos tienen para acceder a una vivienda digna y, en consecuencia, las que más sufren del estigma y del rechazo social que imposibilitan el ejercicio de todos sus derechos como integrantes de la sociedad.  

En este sentido, en contra de lo que proclama determinados sectores de ese falso “feminismo” transexcluyente, las Personas Trans no son “una teoría”, no son producto de una “ideología” impuesta ni tampoco son una “incongruencia”. Las Personas Trans SON, EXISTEN y son titulares de todos los derechos inherentes como seres humanos. Con sus reivindicaciones no lastran el feminismo sino todo lo contrario. Su contribución enriquece la lucha por la igualdad entre todas las personas aportando herramientas que permiten seguir trabajando por una sociedad más igualitaria e inclusiva. Una sociedad más plural, libre, justa, diversa, democrática y avanzada. En definitiva, su contribución permite que nuestra democracia sea cada vez más plena. Su lucha por la igualdad debe ser la lucha por la igualdad de todas las mujeres, de todos los hombres, entre todas las mujeres y entre todos los hombres. Su valentía y determinación nos llenan de un PROFUNDO ORGULLO y, por tal razón, el ejercicio todos sus derechos inherentes DEBE SER PLENAMENTE GARANTIZADO. No olvidemos que, en toda sociedad democrática y avanzada que se precie, el derecho al libre desarrollo de la personalidad es un derecho ABSOLUTAMENTE INCUESTIONABLE. Y la razón de que sea incuestionable radica en que ese derecho al libre desarrollo de la personalidad nace de la dignidad humana inviolable, de la que toda persona es poseedora, y que es la fuente de la que emanan todos los derechos inherentes al ser humano. Por esta razón, no puede haber distinciones al respecto ni tampoco lugar para el debate. 

Por todo lo expresado hasta el momento, resulta del todo imprescindible un marco normativo que reconozca los derechos humanos y fundamentales de las personas la Comunidad LGTBIQA+ en todas las naciones del mundo. Una legislación que ampare y garantice el ejercicio de todos los derechos y que persiga cualquier forma de violencia, odio y discriminación por razón de la orientación, identidad sexual o expresión de género. Mientras se consigue ese marco jurídico, que debe nacer desde el seno de la Comunidad Internacional a través de tratados internacionales vinculantes para todos los Estados, seguiremos denunciando y posicionándonos de lado las personas del Colectivo LGTBIQA+ frente a toda forma de violencia, odio y discriminación. 

Debemos comprometernos como sociedad y trabajar por la libertad, la igualdad  y la dignidad de toda persona, empezando por nuestros hogares, con nuestras familias, en nuestros barrios, en nuestras escuelas e institutos, en nuestras aldeas, en nuestros pueblos y en nuestras ciudades. Solo así obtendremos la respuesta que nos permita plasmar posteriormente en las Asambleas y en los Parlamentos de todo el mundo. Tenemos que hacerlo desde la convicción absoluta de que la Humanidad, en toda su riqueza y en toda su diversidad, es sin duda nuestro mayor y más valioso patrimonio. Y, en consecuencia, es nuestro derecho, pero también nuestro deber, defender a la Humanidad de cualquier ataque te cuestione, trivialice o niegue los derechos y la dignidad inviolable de cualquier persona, sea quien sea y en cualquier lugar del mundo. 

Las sombras del pasado nos alertan de las consecuencias de no prestar atención a aquellas acciones que condujeron a cometer en contra de la propia Humanidad las más abominables de las aberraciones. Esas sombras del pasado no pueden regresar, ocupar nuestro presente y condicionar el futuro de nuestra sociedad. Si lo permitimos, tendremos que reconocer nuestro fracaso una vez más. 

Por tanto, si realmente queremos construir un futuro mejor, tenemos que unir nuestras fuerzas y hacer frente a quienes pretender destruir lo construido, a quienes pretender cercenar derechos, a quienes buscan implantar una sociedad basada en la ignorancia que conduce al prejuicio y después al odio.

Hagámoslo no solo hoy sino todos los días del año, hagámoslo sin tener dudas de que estamos haciendo lo que es correcto, hagámoslo en la creencia de que el derecho a ser, a sentir y a amar también son derechos inherentes de cualquier persona, hagámoslo desde el convencimiento de que todos los seres humanos hemos nacido libres e iguales en dignidad y derechos. Sin excepciones.

Porque los Derechos LGTBIQA+, ¡SON DERECHOS HUMANOS!

¡POR LA LIBERTAD!

¡POR LA DIGNIDAD!

¡POR LA IGUALDAD!

¡POR LA DIVERSIDAD!

¡FELIZ DÍA DEL ORGULLO!

¡LLENEMOS LAS FACHADAS!

🇬🇧ENGLISH🇺🇸

LET’S COVER THE FACADES!

(International LGBTIQA+ Pride Day)

When another year comes to celebrate diversity and visibility; to claim the freedom of being, feeling and loving; and to demand equal rights for millions of people around the world, we realise that those barriers that were thought to be overcome and those dark times that we thought were only memories of the past, are once again threatening those who claim what they are: human beings born free and equal with the same dignity and the same rights as any other person in the world.

Those who, for decades, fought for the freedom that is now once again at risk, contemplate with regret how all the advances achieved at the cost of their freedom and, sometimes, of their own lives, are once again at serious risk of disappearing. Without all those people who fought in the darkest times, none of the LGTBIQA+ rights would have been possible. Thanks to their efforts and suffering, we have been able to be freer and more equal in the diversity of our society today.

Without a doubt, today is a day to reaffirm the defence of freedom and equality for all people, whoever they are and without distinctions of any kind. In these times of uncertainty, it is our moral duty as a society to always stand with those who have suffered rejection from their environment and their families just for being, feeling or loving differently, but with the same rights as anyone else in the world. Millions of people are affected daily by the prejudices and stereotypes that dehumanise them by their peers. All this thanks to the support of ideologies that deny equality, freedom, the rights to which every person is entitled, as well as the inviolability of human dignity, which is the source of each and every one of the rights of every person. Of everyone, without distinctions or exceptions of any kind.

Just when we thought that the Covid-19 pandemic had been a turning point to begin to improve as a society based on empathy and respect, we have realised that the «pandemic of hate» is still very present and continues to strike the LGTBIQA+ Collective systematically against their most basic rights and with increasing force. Millions of people have seen how the loneliness and darkness of the wardrobe have returned to hover over them and have once again suffered the rejection and abandonment of their families. Where they should have received only love and understanding, they have received hate and pain. Many of them have had to leave their homes without the slightest protection because, although we talk about how we are a «full and advanced democracy», there are hardly any specific protocols of action adapted to LGTBIQA+ people, including minors, which, on the other hand, are hardly applied adequately.

The reports that periodically show the increase in cases of aggression in different parts of the world are well known. A systematic violation of rights that, despite the many advances and conquests that have taken place since the end of the 1960s, continues to happen in those countries where, for a sector of society, raising a multicoloured flag is still a cause for scandal. A flag that embraces everyone, a flag that never excludes anyone, not even those who detest it so vehemently seeking to spread its message of hatred as criminal as it is unacceptable in a democracy. A FLAG THAT, THE MORE THEY BAN IT, THE MORE IT WILL HANG IN OUR WINDOWS AND ON OUR FAÇADES.

As it is, in nearly 70 countries today, more than a third of all the countries in the world, homosexuality is still a crime. In 2 of the countries it is de facto illegal, in 30 countries it carries a prison sentence of up to 8 years, in 27 countries it is punishable by life imprisonment and in 11 countries it is punishable by life imprisonment, which is effectively enforced in 5 countries. Moreover, according to data from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), sexual orientation and gender identity is the second cause behind reported hate crimes. For this reason, we have to show our strongest repulsion towards all forms of violence and reject those ideological currents and other theories without any scientific basis that question, trivialise and even deny the human rights and discriminatory realities that affect LGTBIQA+ people on a daily basis, attacking and denying their inviolable human dignity.

The increase in cases of aggressions, both physical and verbal, towards LGTBIQA+ people, especially towards Trans and Non-Binary People, of any age and place of origin, is highly worrying. In this sense, the role of Public Administrations, together with the collaboration of Civil Society entities, is essential to fight against all forms of violence, hatred and discrimination. In particular, it is necessary to condemn any attempt to give a green light to the so-called «conversion therapies», forced sterilisations and surgical interventions on intersex minors, which are totally contrary to the dignity of the person, to the fundamental right to the free development of the personality and, therefore, inadmissible in a democracy considered to be an advanced democracy. 

It is true, violence, hatred and discrimination are present in our society and to deny it is an act of cynicism. They exist in all their forms and in aspects as essential as access to the labour market under equal conditions, access to decent housing, access to Health Services and other Public Services adapted to particular needs and, particularly worryingly, in the field of Education which, without doubt, is one of the essential pillars in the fight against all forms of discrimination and, particularly, against the discrimination suffered by minors from the LGTBIQA+ Collective through different forms of harassment and cyber-bullying on the grounds of their sexual orientation and identity or gender expression. For this reason, we must be very aware that we cannot allow any act of discrimination or any form of hate speech to be normalised. If we allow it, we will also have to take responsibility for any form of violence that results from these acts.

If we want to ensure the full guarantee of the exercise of the inherent rights of any person, regardless of their orientation, sexual identity or gender expression, a coordinated response between the different public administrations, law enforcement agencies and entities representing civil society is absolutely essential. Similarly, we must continue to insist on a cross-cutting approach in all areas and especially in Education, Health and Employment, where effective measures to prevent all forms of discriminatory and violent behaviour are still urgent and necessary. But, beyond declarations and institutional acts, real commitments must be demanded to respond to the victims of aggressions and reduce the levels of under-reporting which, in some areas, exceed 90% of the total number of cases affecting LGTBIQA+ people. All institutions, whether local, regional or national, have the obligation to remove all obstacles to equal treatment and to carry out all necessary measures to eradicate violence, hatred and discrimination. This is clearly determined by the competences attributed to them by law. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES.

At this point, we must remember those who belong to other minorities within the LGTBIQA+ Collective itself and who suffer higher levels of discrimination and violence under different forms of multiple discrimination by living an identity reality of an intersectional nature due to their ethnic, national or cultural origin. In this sense, it is unacceptable that from within the Collective itself there are currents of unsupportive oppression towards other people through patriarchal, racist and xenophobic behaviour towards LGTBIQA+ migrants and refugees. The same applies to those who suffer discrimination within the Collective itself on the grounds of having some kind of functional, intellectual or sensory diversity or who, from positions arising from heteronormative homonationalism, are victims of misogynist behaviour that makes lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and intersex women invisible, denying them protection and the free exercise of their most basic rights.  

Particularly worrying is the situation experienced by transgender people who, without a doubt, are the ones who suffer most from situations of harassment, persecution and unjust criminalisation. All this, without forgetting the aggressions, both physical and verbal, within their usual family and social environment, as well as the high levels of social exclusion and vulnerability. Thus, Transgender people are the ones who suffer the most from enormous obstacles to access the labour market, to healthcare adapted to their needs, the ones who suffer the most within an Education System that has enormous deficiencies in terms of inclusion and respect for affective-sexual diversity, the ones who have the most obstacles to access decent housing and, consequently, the ones who suffer the most from stigma and social rejection that make it impossible for them to exercise all their rights as members of society.  

In this sense, contrary to what certain sectors of this false trans exclusionary «feminism» proclaim, Trans People are not «a theory», they are not the product of an imposed «ideology», nor are they an «incongruity». Trans people ARE, EXIST and are entitled to all inherent rights as human beings. With their demands they do not burden feminism; on the contrary, their contribution enriches the struggle for feminism. Their contribution enriches the struggle for equality among all people by providing tools that allow us to continue working for a more egalitarian and inclusive society. A more plural, free, fair, diverse, democratic and advanced society. In short, their contribution enables our democracy to become ever more complete. Your fight for equality must be the fight for equality for all women, for all men, among all women and among all men. Their courage and determination fill us with DEEP PRIDE and, for this reason, the exercise of all their inherent rights MUST BE FULLY GUARANTEED. Let us not forget that, in any self-respecting democratic and advanced society, the right to free development of the personality is an ABSOLUTELY UNQUESTIONABLE right. And the reason why it is unquestionable lies in the fact that this right to the free development of the personality stems from the inviolable human dignity, of which every person is the possessor, and which is the source from which all the rights inherent to the human being emanate. For this reason, there can be no distinction in this respect and no room for debate. 

For all that has been said so far, a regulatory framework that recognises the human and fundamental rights of the LGTBIQA+ Community in all nations of the world is absolutely essential. Legislation that protects and guarantees the exercise of all rights and prosecutes any form of violence, hatred and discrimination based on orientation, sexual identity or gender expression. Until this legal framework is achieved, which must come from the heart of the International Community through international treaties binding on all States, we will continue to denounce and stand on the side of the LGTBIQA+ Collective against all forms of violence, hatred and discrimination. 

We must commit ourselves as a society and work for the freedom, equality and dignity of every person, starting in our homes, with our families, in our neighbourhoods, in our schools and colleges, in our villages, in our towns and in our cities. Only in this way will we get the response that will enable us to shape the Assemblies and Parliaments around the world. We must do so in the absolute conviction that Humanity, in all its richness and diversity, is undoubtedly our greatest and most valuable heritage. And, consequently, it is our right, but also our duty, to defend Humanity from any attack that questions, trivialises or denies the rights and inviolable dignity of any person, whoever they may be and wherever they may be in the world. 

The shadows of the past alert us to the consequences of not paying attention to those actions that led to the most abominable of aberrations being committed against Humanity itself. Those shadows of the past cannot return, occupy our present and condition the future of our society. If we allow them to do so, we will have to acknowledge our failure once again. 

Therefore, if we really want to build a better future, we have to join forces and stand up to those who seek to destroy what has been built, to those who seek to curtail rights, to those who seek to implant a society based on ignorance that leads to prejudice and then to hatred.

Let us do it not only today but every day of the year, let us do it without having doubts that we are doing what is right, let us do it in the belief that the right to be, to feel and to love are also inherent rights of any person, let us do it from the conviction that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Without exceptions.

Because LGTBIQA+ Rights ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!

FOR FREEDOM!

FOR DIGNITY!

FOR EQUALITY!

FOR DIVERSITY!

HAPPY PRIDE DAY!

LET’S COVER THE FACADES!