With the celebration of International LGBTIQ+ Pride Day, this June 28, Lanzarote has the First Island Pact Against Hate Speech and Visibility of the LGTBI+ Community, a pioneering initiative promoted by the Lánzate Association, by the hand of the State LGTB Federation and in which the main entities of the island have collaborated.
From the association they have remarked to La Voz that this pact is the representation of "a historical milestone in the fight against hatred and discrimination." The former president of the association, Nahum Cabrera, has revealed that this "first pact constitutes for the first time in history the coordination of actions of diversity and visibility of the collective between the public administration and the third sector" on the island.
With the measures that have been enumerated from the association, Lanzarote "will be the first national territory to implement it", Cabrera highlighted. It is a pact that can be implemented in many other Spanish communities, with which Lánzate are convinced that "they will echo our actions to implement them in their local territories", he pointed out.
"Lanzarote is going to be the first national territory to implement it"
In addition, the pact includes "other coordinated actions in terms of visibility of the LGTBIQ+ collective", Cabrera stressed. "To make the collective visible in a transversal way in many areas throughout the year, not only for this June 28", he pointed out. The main and important measure that the pact will bring is that "eliminate hate speech within public administrations", he revealed.
Also, with its arrival, specific actions of educational training in diversity and equality between the Cabildo and consistories will be carried out, but also in educational and training centers, senior centers and social centers throughout the island. Access to quality employment for the collective will be one of the most anticipated measures that the pact will bring. "Part of the hiring to eliminate the labor exclusion of the collective, especially the trans collective", which is the one that usually has the most difficulties to enter the labor market, he pointed out.
Cabrera has advanced that the pact has already been approved in the plenary sessions of the City Councils of Tías, Teguise and Arrecife and they have it prepared for those of San Bartolomé, Yaiza, Haría and Tinajo. In addition, some social associations of the third sector such as Mararía, Flor Acoge, El Cribo, have already joined this pact.
Activist since the age of 10
Eider Díaz Noda, the Lanzarote native who identifies as non-binary and bisexual, has been an activist for the LGTBIQ+ Collective practically all his life. He started at the age of 10, all to help a homosexual friend who suffered bullying at school. "We formed a group of friends who helped each other," he revealed to La Voz. This 2024, already 20 years old and living in Arrecife, he continues to claim the need to celebrate this Pride Day to end hatred of the collective in society.
In the association "we are like a family", he revealed. Since you enter Lánzate you become part of a small family in which to take refuge. "You are already part of the family, you are with people who understand what you can feel and are a wall of support," he added. Lánzate has had to live through many complicated situations for the collective. One of the situations that the members had to face was a bad reaction from a lady during the demonstration for the approval of the Trans Law in Arrecife last 2023. "A lady started shouting at us, talking badly to us, insulting one of my trans friends saying: "fucking trans", he revealed. An attitude that was not accepted by any of the people who were on the street, although they did not participate in the demonstration. "People started applauding in Calle Real, and the lady had to leave," he recalled.
Respect and vindication is the basis of what is claimed for this 28J. "The day will have to continue to be celebrated until there is no more news that tells of beatings of people from the collective", the young man stressed. Although accompaniment and understanding also play an important role for its members, especially in the family nucleus. "You have to make the effort to know and help a little more", Díaz revealed. Children who "do not feel accepted in their environment" can suffer "a small pain in their heart", so it is important to "get involved to know a little beyond", he advised.
"Lack of knowledge"
Díaz has explained what the non-binary gender means, a question that still "needs more acceptance, given its ignorance", he stressed. It is based on two questions: the first, there are people who do not identify with either of the two genders, neither male nor female and many others, who identify with those two genders and also, with the gender identities that exist.
The Arrecife native has to deal with the odd "uncomfortable" situation when he talks about his gender identity. "Sometimes they tell me, what do you identify with?, with a giraffe...", he said. What he has to listen to in some opinions he considers that "they are an exaggeration and a lack of reasoning", he pointed out. In addition, another of the typical questions they ask him when saying that he is bisexual is: "what do you like more, boys or girls?", he recalled. In his case, he has clarified that he does not care about the gender of the other, that "he likes the person for his attractiveness and personality".
A spot advertising for Pride Day in Teguise
On the occasion of this Pride Day, the City Council of Teguise has promoted a spot advertising in the municipality to give voice to the collective. The Lanzarote activist involved with LGTBI+ rights, Pablo Delgado, has revealed in a recent interview on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, the sensations with which he has finished his participation. "We decided to join the project of the spot and a very beautiful thing has come out". In the words that are collected after the final result, he has assured that "we are happy with the result, very real and interesting".
An advertisement that represents many realities within the collective, with close-ups of a couple of girls, and another couple of two men playing with a child and a young man walking towards the bathroom who meets a trans person. "They are situations present in the lives of many people, that we miss", he specified. Like "the confidence that a trans person has to go to the bathroom".
With the celebration of this International Day, Delgado, has made it clear that "Pride has to be celebrated until we can walk down the street with our partner hand in hand". The Lanzarote activist has highlighted the role that the Canary Islands play in the acceptance and visibility of the collective. "The Archipelago is quite leading with the collective, but there is still harassment and hatred, although to a lesser extent", he recalled.
Delgado collects the social impressions about the collective that occur in Spain, with "giant steps backwards and hate speeches". Although it is a "leading country in the laws", people "continue to be carried away by these speeches, harassment and insults".
The activist residing on the island has clarified his personal situation as a member of the LGTBIQ+ collective. "I have not been physically assaulted, but I notice the discrimination and insults", he concludes about the current situation that the collective is experiencing.
