In Barcelona, Ana Valenzuela and her 12-year-old transgender daughter worry that the conservative People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox could undo LGBT rights if they win this month’s election. Spain’s leftist government passed a groundbreaking law allowing transgender people aged 14 and over to change their legal gender without evaluations or judicial approval. Children aged 12 to 14 can change their gender with consent and approval. Valenzuela’s daughter wants to change her ID card before potential policy changes.
“It’s unfortunate that children are aware of this,” said Valenzuela, who advised the government during the creation of the “Trans Law”. Vox plans to repeal the law and has challenged it in court, arguing it violates child protection rights and bodily integrity. Vox also wants to remove hormone replacement therapies from public healthcare and ban trans women from sports and bathrooms.
Polls suggest the PP will win the most votes but fall short of a majority, likely needing Vox to form a government. Olga Nadal, from trans youth rights group Chrysallis Catalunya, voiced concern about the potential repeal of the law. “There is a threat, but we will resist,” she said during an LGBT Pride march in Barcelona.
Chrysallis, representing 2,000 families across Spain, is led by Valenzuela as president of the Catalan branch. At a PP rally, former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed concerns and said parties should focus on “issues that truly affect people.” Emi Blanco, attending the Barcelona parade with her transgender daughter, countered his remarks, saying, “My daughter is transgender. Would he care if he had a transgender person at home? Everyone deserves to live without party interference.”
Reporting by Horaci García; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Alexandra Hudson
Credit: The Star : News Feed
