Authorities in Spain have put the brakes on a bus campaigning against the promotion of transgenderism.
The Catholic group HazteOir (‘Make yourself heard’) has previously lobbied against the increasing blurring of gender identity in public life but on this occasion it has been blocked from doing so, with authorities in Madrid launching an inquiry into why the bus was allowed to display the slogan: “Boys have penises, girls have vaginas. Don’t let them fool you. If you’re born a man, you’re a man, if you’re a woman, you will continue to be so.”
The group planned to tour the bus around Spain this week but the vehicle was impounded in the Spanish capital and an official complaint made over what is being regarded as a potential hate crime, triggering a battle between freedom of expression and LGBT rights in the Catholic country.
In a statement, prosecutors said not immobilizing the bus could end up “disturbing the peace and creating a feeling of insecurity or fear among people due to their identity or sexual orientation, and specifically among minors who could be affected by the message.”
The bus campaign drew criticism from political parties and equality campaigners.
Pablo Iglesias, leader of the far-left Podemos party, said in a television interview: “Those from HazteOir may have penises and vaginas, but they clearly don’t have a brain, nor do they have a heart.”
But a man called Gerardo, a 71-year-old who refused to give his surname when interviewed, said he had come to defend his right to freedom of expression, just like those promoting gender identity in schools or elsewhere.
He said: “We have the right to educate our children according to our thinking, why must they impose their criteria? It doesn’t seem right that they teach our children this type of ideology, that anyone can choose their sex.”
Ten semi-autonomous regions in Spain have adopted laws against discrimination of transsexuals. Activists are now calling for a state-level law banning discrimination of people for their sexual orientation or gender identity.