The spokesperson for the Popular Group in the Madrid Assembly recorded on Friday a modification of the reform approved in December by the plenary session of the Chamber of the LGTBI and Trans laws of 2016. The PP won the applause of the Socialist Group. , who considers it a “triumph for the dignity of trans people”. With this tactic, the PP is trying to prevent the success of the appeal presented by the Sánchez government to the Constitutional Court against its reforms.
PP sources explained to ABC that it is a “very technical reform that modifies the wording in accordance with the opinions of the Council of State so that it cannot present the slightest defect.” Of course, he emphasizes that “it maintains in all its essence the spirit and reason of the reform”.
In the explanatory memorandum of the bill that the PP registered this Friday, it is noted that “this law specifically modifies some of the articles concerned by these modifications, following the opinions of the Council of State dated March 21, 2024. and in order to make technical adjustments and improvements to the drafting of the texts.
It is also recalled that on December 29, 2023, Law 17/2023 of December 27, which modifies Law 2/2016 of March 29, was published in the Official Journal of the Community of Madrid for the protection, effective equality and non-protection. discrimination of transsexual and intersex people in the Community of Madrid, and Law 18/2023 of December 27, which modifies Law 3/2016 of July 22 on the protection, effective equality and non-discrimination of LGTBI people in the Community of Madrid. .
“These amendments aimed to correct aspects of the original wording of the laws that were likely to violate fundamental rights, while adapting regional laws to the recently approved national regulations,” the new bill says.
This latest change addresses two key issues for the left: one related to mandatory medical reporting for trans minors and another with the use of locker rooms by trans children and teens. The PP received applause from the PSOE and Más Madrid, but it will be more difficult to maintain the support that Vox gave it in December. However, the popular parties use their absolute majority to make this new modification.
In the 2023 reform, it was emphasized that for trans minors a mandatory psychological report was necessary and support by child and adolescent mental health professionals was also mandatory. “From now on, the report will only be obligatory in the event of a history of mental pathology and the only thing that is obligatory is support. The psychologist will not have to make a report to provide puberty indicator blockers,” explained the PSOE, after learning of the reform.
Regarding changing rooms, the reform highlights the right of access for trans people. It was another of the articles that caused a lot of controversy during the reform process in 2023.
“It is a cry and time has proven us right: the PP was wrong in once again discriminating and pathologizing trans people. This amendment is a triumph of truth and the dignity of trans people,” said PSOE MP Santi Rivero.
“From the PSOE we will continue to emphasize that the PP returns to the positions of 2016, when it defended, if only lip service, the rights of LGTBI people and we will continue to work for an open, diverse and respectful system . region towards LGBTI people. It is urgent that the PP abandons the transphobia and LGTBIphobia that it copied from Vox and returns to the path of diversity,” warned Rivero.
The PSOE considers that the PP “has made an error and is trying to correct part of this error by returning to a formulation similar to the original, lest the TC overturn the law.” “It is a triumph of the appeal that the Spanish government has filed before the Constitutional Court. “This changes what the resource is asking to delete.”
Manuela Bergerot, from Más Madrid, also pointed out that “Ayuso is stepping back out of obligation to avoid a legal setback.” “We have always said that this is a hidden repeal and an attack on the rights of LGBTI and trans people.”
“Thanks to the resources of the Spanish Government and Más Madrid at the request of the Ombudsman, the PP today had to rectify and LGTBI people and in particular trans minors will be a little safer in our region,” he said. he assured. Madrid.
“Attacking these laws was a cowardly and miserable act from the start and we consider this self-amendment a small triumph for the LGBTI rights movement,” says Bergerot.
