contents
The left-wing government in Spain wants to give trans people more rights – with a new law. This causes resentment in their own ranks.
It’s all about this: A year and a half ago, Spain’s left-wing governing coalition approved the draft of a new transgender law. This should enable young adults from the age of 16 to determine their gender themselves – specifically to change their gender entry without the consent of their parents and without medical clarification. But there is persistent resistance to this – including from within the left ranks.
The opposition: The two governing parties PSOE and Unidos Podemos had jointly approved the draft. But then the PSOE, the party of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, suddenly sided with the conservatives and right-wing populists, and helped delay the debate on the law. “This has mainly to do with the fact that elections are coming up in 2023 and both parties want to present themselves as feminist,” says journalist Julia Macher.
The older feminists are shaped by the fight for women’s rights after the Franco dictatorship.
The background: Behind the dispute over the new law is a generational conflict within Spanish feminists. Older feminists from the PSOE in particular fear that the transgender law will jeopardize their achievements. “They are shaped by the struggle for women’s rights after the Franco dictatorship,” says Macher. “Back then it was about equality between men and women, the right to one’s own profession, the free decision for or against a child – that is, about the abortion law.” The design goes too far for them.
The supporters: “The younger feminists, most of whom are at home with Unidas Podemos, have significantly fewer reservations when it comes to LGBTQ issues,” observes the freelance correspondent. “They are concerned with self-determination in general and protection against discrimination.” As Macher puts it, they see themselves on the “right side”. This is with the argument that the World Health Organization (WHO) removed transsexuality from the list of mental illnesses years ago. “And with this law you want to adjust the law to reality.”
Here’s what people think: The daily newspaper “El Mundo” recently published one opinion poll published about it. According to this, 66 percent of the population see it as a problem that 16-year-olds can decide independently about their gender. However, 63 percent of the population think it is fundamentally correct that not biology, but self-perception decides on gender identity. The left-wing parties agree, while the right-wing parties disagree. But even among the right-wing opposition, between 34 and 39 percent say yes to the right to self-determination.
This is how it goes on: The coalition will not break up over the question, says Macher. “Also because in the PSOE not everyone shares the no to the right to self-determination.” A few days ago, Spain’s only transsexual member of parliament so far gave up her socialist party membership. This week, Equal Opportunities Minister Irene Montero extended the appeals deadline to November 18. “If it stays that way, the law could actually get through by early 2023. That would be an important symbolic victory for Montero and Unidas Podemos, the smaller partner in the left-wing coalition – especially with a view to next year’s elections.”