The secretary of Equality of PSOE Canarias, Betsaida González, has requested this Saturday the withdrawal of the institutional campaign launched by the Government of Canarias, on the occasion of the carnival festivities, under the slogan "Do whatever you want… but if it ‘sounds’, use a condom", considering that it “eliminates express consent from the center of sexual relations" and projects "a clearly phallocentric approach", aimed only at the male population.
González has recognized the importance of promoting the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, but has warned that “sexual health cannot be approached with simplistic messages that reduce responsibility to a single party and that ignore an essential element: free and shared consent”. “A public campaign cannot leave out women or place them in a secondary role. Talking about sexuality in 2026 requires explicitly incorporating equality, respect, and personal autonomy”, she stated.
In her opinion, the chosen slogan “is not only unfortunate", but it conveys a limited vision of sexual relations, "centered on the male and impulse, without any reference to mutual agreement”. The socialist leader has stressed that public policies on equality must be consistent with the regulatory and social advances of recent years. “Consent is not an add-on, it is the foundation. Any institutional action in the field of sexuality should reinforce that idea clearly”, she pointed out.
Therefore, PSOE Canarias requests that the campaign be withdrawn and replaced by another “more transversal and inclusive" one, which appeals to society as a whole and promotes sexual relations based on mutual respect and co-responsibility. “Prevention is fundamental, but so is educating in equality. It is not just about using a condom; it is about ensuring that all relationships are free, consensual, and respectful”, González stated.
