Division in a text condemning homophobic attacks in the Islands in Parliament

PalmThe Parliament plenary session voted dividedly this Tuesday on a text condemning LGTBiphobia in light of recent episodes of homophobic attacks that have occurred in recent months in the Balearic Islands. The left voted in favor of the document, and the PP supported most of the initiative, but rejected taking a stance against the President of the Chamber, Gabriel Le Senne, for having made a video in front of a Porto Cristo institute criticizing a mural in which two women were kissing. For its part, Vox voted against it.

The PSIB deputy Ares Fernández has defended the motion, which positions itself against episodes of hate, such as the burning of a flag with the rainbow in a high school in Muro. MÉS per Mallorca has proposed adding several points to condemn the homophobic attacks recently suffered by a high school teacher, a vendor at the Pere Garau market, and a resident of Formentera, as well as to condemn and reject what has been considered LGTBIphobic attitudes by Le Senne. The eco-sovereigntist amendment to condemn homophobic aggressions and attacks had the favorable vote of the PP and was approved with only the dissenting vote of Vox. For their part, the popular party voted against the point relating to the President of the Chamber and, therefore, it did not prosper.

Most of the remaining points were approved with the favorable vote of the Popular Party. The PSIB deputy Ares Fernández referred to recent episodes of LGTBIfobia and lamented that they are no longer "nighttime aggressions, in hidden places or in vulnerable spaces, but rather acts that occur during the day, in front of everyone, in everyday spaces". The socialist also lamented the "cancellation of the Pride festival in Palma, and accused the Palma City Council of "letting it die". "In the face of hatred, silence or complicity are not enough," he assured: "In the face of hatred, justice." The deputy for MÉS per Mallorca, Marta Carrió, lashed out at Vox for, in her opinion, fueling hate speech. "Hate speech prepares the ground for discrimination and violence," she stated. Meanwhile, the deputy for Unides Podem, José María García, warned of the increase in homophobic aggressions, both physical and verbal.

On behalf of the PP, deputy Pedro Álvarez defended that no form of hatred or humiliation "has a place in the Islands". The popular politician condemned the recent LGTBIphobic episodes and recalled the need to insist on the defense of a society based on respect for human dignity and coexistence.

From Vox, deputy Sergio Rodríguez rejected the left's desire to "collectivize" homosexuals, insisting that "many" do not "feel represented" by the LGTBI acronym. He also took advantage of his speech to lash out at immigrants. "0.001% of hate crimes are committed by Spaniards compared to 0.002.9% committed by immigrants," he said: "Three times more than Spaniards". Furthermore, he said that Vox deputies "are the ones who suffer the most" from hate crimes.