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Madrid bans Catholic group's anti-transgender bus | Madrid bans Catholic group's anti-transgender bus |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A bright orange bus emblazoned with an anti-transgender message has been forced off the roads in Spain, after activists, trade unions, and Madrid City Council united against it. | A bright orange bus emblazoned with an anti-transgender message has been forced off the roads in Spain, after activists, trade unions, and Madrid City Council united against it. |
The slogan on the bus read: "Boys have penises, girls have vulvas. Do not be fooled." | The slogan on the bus read: "Boys have penises, girls have vulvas. Do not be fooled." |
A Catholic group, Hazte Oir, had planned to take it on a nationwide tour of Spanish cities. | A Catholic group, Hazte Oir, had planned to take it on a nationwide tour of Spanish cities. |
The group said the ban was illegal and that it planned to acquire a new bus. | |
One message on the side of the banned bus states: "If you are born a man, you are a man. If you are a woman, you will continue to be one." | |
It is believed to be a response to posters put up in northern Spain by a transgender rights group, which read: "There are girls with penises and boys with vulvas. It's as simple as that." | It is believed to be a response to posters put up in northern Spain by a transgender rights group, which read: "There are girls with penises and boys with vulvas. It's as simple as that." |
An outcry arose in various quarters when the bus was spotted in Madrid on Monday. | An outcry arose in various quarters when the bus was spotted in Madrid on Monday. |
The Equality spokeswoman for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, Angeles Alvarez, branded the bus tour "a hate campaign based on intolerance", according to Spain's El Pais newspaper. | The Equality spokeswoman for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, Angeles Alvarez, branded the bus tour "a hate campaign based on intolerance", according to Spain's El Pais newspaper. |
A spokeswoman for socialists on Madrid City Council, Purificacion Causapie, called it "contrary to the dignity and rights of transsexual children". | A spokeswoman for socialists on Madrid City Council, Purificacion Causapie, called it "contrary to the dignity and rights of transsexual children". |
She urged the mayor's office to ensure Madrid remains "a city free of discrimination, violence and attacks on minors". Madrid City Council said the vehicle could incite hatred. | |
'The bus of shame' | 'The bus of shame' |
Though the outrage centres on its message, the bus has technically been ordered off the roads for breaching municipal rules on outdoor advertising. | Though the outrage centres on its message, the bus has technically been ordered off the roads for breaching municipal rules on outdoor advertising. |
Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena said the City Council wants the vehicle out of the city "as soon as possible". | Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena said the City Council wants the vehicle out of the city "as soon as possible". |
The Councilman for Security, Javier Barbero, said on Tuesday that police had contained "the bus of shame". | The Councilman for Security, Javier Barbero, said on Tuesday that police had contained "the bus of shame". |
What would you ask a transgender woman? | What would you ask a transgender woman? |
Trending: The world's first transgender doll | Trending: The world's first transgender doll |
Trump revokes transgender toilet rules | Trump revokes transgender toilet rules |
The president of Hazte Oir, which translates as "Make yourself heard" has argued that the group has a right to protest against "laws of sexual indoctrination" and the right to freedom of speech. | The president of Hazte Oir, which translates as "Make yourself heard" has argued that the group has a right to protest against "laws of sexual indoctrination" and the right to freedom of speech. |
Ignacio Arsuaga claimed the slogan on the bus states only "a fact of biology that is studied in schools". | Ignacio Arsuaga claimed the slogan on the bus states only "a fact of biology that is studied in schools". |
The group told the BBC it was not expecting to meet so much opposition. | |
"The Madrid City Council kidnapped the bus this morning, with no legal order from any court. This is illegal, and our lawyers are preparing a complaint so that our right to freedom of expression is restored," Mr Arsuaga said. | |
"We are going to appeal this unjust decision and file a criminal case against the extreme-left Madrid mayor." | |
Hazte Oir intends to visit nine Spanish cities over two or three weeks, and is looking at getting a second bus. | |
The Mayor of Barcelona made clear the controversial coach would not be welcome there, writing on Twitter: "In Barcelona there is no place for LGBT-phobic buses. We want our children to grow in freedom and without hatred." | |
Barcelona's City Council has warned the group it could face a fine of up to €3,000 (£2,560; $3,160) for breaching advertising laws if the bus takes to the streets. |
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