The LGBTQ+ community is invisible in most educational centers in the Balearic Islands

PalmOnly 31.5% of schools in the Balearic Islands specifically address the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community, according to the 2024-2025 report from the Institute for Coexistence and School Success (Convivèxit) – data from 2023-2024. The study confirms that, despite progress in co-education, attention to sexual and gender diversity remains a minority practice in schools. This figure represents an improvement compared to 17.7% in the 2020-2021 school year, but it is far from the percentages of other initiatives related to equality. More than 90% of schools celebrate March 8, International Women's Day, and between 80% and 85% commemorate November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women). The visibility of female role models is also present in more than 90% of schools in recent years.

The material that arrives at schools to work on gender equality is constant and, almost always, focuses on the male-female relationship. "When dates like March 8th or November 25th approach, our inbox fills up with proposals from publishers, organizations, and the government, offering us activities and exercises. The same doesn't happen with key dates for advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community," explains Joana Maria Mas, president of the Association of the Association of the Association of "It's clear that the rights and equality of LGBTQ+ people are addressed, but in a cross-curricular way across all subjects," she adds.

The situation is even more complex in secondary school. "At my school we address it, but we encounter barriers: social media messages reach students with preconceived notions, and these topics become taboo. There are even families who don't want them discussed. There's a clear polarization between students who are very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community and others who are completely opposed," explains Joan Ramon X'.

Structural Leap

The Convivèxit report confirms a remarkable advance in coeducation. 93% of schools have an approved (83.1%) or currently developing (10%) Equality and Coeducation Plan (PIC). Just five years ago, in 2020-2021, only 39 plans had been approved. The biggest leap occurred in 2022-2023, when 414 schools (80.85%) had this document, almost 49% more than the previous year. Coeducation has gone from being a minority practice to forming part of the formal structure of almost the entire Balearic education system. In general, there is a growing trend towards diversifying the commemorative dates addressed, integrating them into teaching programs, coexistence plans, equality and coeducation plans, and school projects, and not just as one-off activities. This evolution demonstrates a greater educational awareness of the importance of continuously working on the values ​​of equality, diversity, and respect. In addition to March 8th and November 25th, commemorations such as January 30th (School Day of Non-Violence and Peace), November 20th (Universal Children's Day), May 2nd (International Day Against Bullying), and October 10th (World Health Day) have become firmly established.

In the specific area of ​​sexual and gender diversity, some schools hold activities on May 17 (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia), March 31 (International Transgender Day of Visibility), or adapt initiatives in June to coincide with LGBT Pride Month, since June 28 falls outside the school calendar. However, these commemorations do not yet have the same level of implementation or continuity as the major dates on the feminist calendar.

From Document to Practice

The Convivèxit report also points out that the lack of coordination time and the reliance on teachers' willingness to plan activities hinder the actual implementation of coeducation. Although the plan exists in most schools, its effective application often results in specific activities and not always in a cross-curricular review of content and materials. The Balearic education system has consolidated the regulatory and documentary framework for equality. However, the data shows that the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community remains uneven. Coeducation has been institutionalized; diversity, not yet fully.