President Alberto Fernández assured this Thursday that “We must put pride into practice as a political response to those who still discriminate, mistreat and shame”, during the opening of the cycle ‘We Move Pride’.
“This fight began many years ago, I almost reached the end. I want to value the fight of those who were able to draw the attention of the rest of society, hear discrimination, mistreatment, for the sole fact of wanting to be happy They are the ones who have built the month of Pride“Fernández expressed in an act at the Kirchner Cultural Center, in downtown Buenos Aires, which was held on the occasion of the LGBTIQ+ Pride Month celebrations.
In this context, the president stressed that “In the national public administration there are 500 places occupied by trans people who previously could not access this because of human imbecility, there is no other explanation.”
“It’s about building a democratic society. It’s not just a society where people vote, it’s a society where people respect each other, equalize, one can be happy being what they are,” Fernández said, adding: “Let no one impose a condition to be happy.
“We are in a more egalitarian societywhich gives more rights, which demands and claims them”, considered the Head of State, adding: “A society that expands rights is a better society”.
Fernández recalled a phrase by Carlos Jáuregui, a deceased Argentine LGBT activist and first president of the Argentine Homosexual Community between 1984 and 1987, who had pointed out that “In a society that shames you, that persecutes you, pride is a political response.” and remarked that “he had an impressive courage, in that society that was horrified by what was different” because “you had to be very brave, courageous, to confront”.
Accompanied by the Minister for Women, Gender and Diversity, Ayelen Mazzina, the President asked the LGBTIQ+ community “not to stop fighting because we haven’t achieved all the goals we want”.
“The fight continues today, it is in force and we must continue, until the last madman understands that we must all be respected”, Fernandez indicated.
Along these lines, the president highlighted the idea of ”giving pride every day as a political response” and expanded: “I am convinced that the more respect there is for the other and the more equality there is between us, the happier we will be.”
The president recalled when the then national deputy Vilma Ibarra, now secretary of Legal and Technical, “promoted equal marriage”, -which aroused applause in the room- and pointed out: “What he did was make people happy, and that the laws prevented him, prevented him from loving”.
He also highlighted the importance of “gender equality, so that women are not discriminated against, such as in the workplace, where in many cases men are better paid,” and highlighted the importance of “the legalization of abortion, the 1,000 days or the possibility of accessing non-binary documents”, which aroused more applause from those present.
“Celebrate the pride parade, pride is respecting each one for what they are,” concluded the President.
Mazzina intends to “continue weaving bars”
For his part, Mazzina raised theThe idea of ”making visible” the LGBTIQ+ collective, of “continuing to weave networks”, and “articulating with this ministry, which has been accompanying all the organizations from minute oneyes.”
The minister stressed that “Argentina is proud, with all the laws that have been conquered”, and listed the norms of “gender identity, the female quota, equal marriage, the non-binary DNI”, which “differentiates us from the rest of the world”.
Along these lines, he noted that “you accompanied everything that was done in Argentina”, while looking at the President, and assured that it was done “with social justice, with a present State, with democracy”, without forgetting to continue “fighting for what lack”.
He stressed the need for “old and new generations to be able to live in a world that perhaps cost us a little more, with violence, with discrimination”, and pointed out that “we need more tolerance as a society, that we can all inhabit “.
“And I speak in inclusive language because it is a political discussion,” said the official, and advocated “tolerance and respect above all things.”
“It is a month that characterizes us, unites us, I decided to love in freedom and come out of the closet, because I found networks and community, otherwise I would not have been able to do it“, he told about his personal life, and emphasized that “it is something that characterizes this group, sisterhood, courage.”
In this framework, he pointed out that the head of state “has been a great precursor, he has given many possibilities, and that is why when he proposed the position to me I did not even hesitate, because I know that being here means making visible the struggle of a group that still needs very strong.”
“Learning to listen is opening doors and continuing to build a more equitable society, being free and loving in freedom,” concluded Mazzina.
