A common sign in an inclusive bathroom. Alberto Hernández
In late July, a woman who describes herself as a Christian political scientist posted a video on her Tik Tok account in which she angrily complained to officials at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport about a sign at the entrance to the women’s restroom that said Allowed is the entry of “every person with a female identity”. The video went viral, generating opposing positions: while one group supported the user and congratulated her for protecting the integrity of women, girls and young people in the face of what they believed to be a serious threat, on the other were activists and groups who Trans rights advocates claim that the user’s “concern” is actually another case of transphobia.
“To them we are ‘men disguised as women’, we are not women. That’s why they see us as men entering women’s restrooms. In addition, stereotypes, prejudice and stigma cause them to reproduce the idea that there is something wrong with us because of our transgender identity. They associate sexual diversity with criminal sexual behavior and equate us with pedophiles and perpetrators as we enter the women’s restrooms in restaurants and malls on a daily basis without aggression or abuse on our part,” explains journalist and trans woman Gianna Camacho.
The case was moved to the benches of Parliament. Those who expressed their greatest opposition to inclusive bathrooms were congressmen from Renovación Popular, an ultra-conservative political party. Jorge Montoya sent a letter to Transport and Communications Minister Paola Lazarte calling for the signs to be removed immediately, arguing that “they can mislead men who, under the pretext of their personal approach, feel feminine by they exploit and abuse them.” of so-called gender identity, thereby endangering the sacred right to privacy that women and girls are entitled to.”
His colleague Alejandro Muñante went further: he filed a complaint with the Anti-Crime Prosecutor’s Office against Juan José Salmón Balestra, general manager of the airport operating company Lima Airport Partners (LAP), for “the imminent commission of” a crime against life, body and health; against personal freedom; Violation of privacy; Violation of sexual freedom and violation of public modesty”. From the beginning, LAP has defended its position, claiming that “inclusion and respect for diversity is one of our core pillars as an international airport”.
Through its communication section, LAP provides a revealing piece of information that has not been taken into account in other journalistic articles: the inclusive signage in the men’s and women’s toilets was introduced on June 28, 2021, and not as late as it could have been believed the viral video . “For almost two years we have not identified an incident related to harassment of girls and women in airport restrooms.” A haunting fact that shatters opinions and fears of any kind.
In addition, they stress that the signage is not only posted in the international boarding area, but also in domestic and international arrival and mixed departure lounges. “Since 2020, we have been pursuing a sustainability approach that addresses diversity and inclusion across departments. “The goal is to make the airport a safe space for all our passengers, users and employees,” they note.
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The National Commission Against Discrimination (CONACOD), an agency under the Ministry of Justice, released a report stating, “The action taken by the company Lima Airport Partners has constitutional and international regulatory support.” In that sense, it claims the company as well all companies operating in Peru to continue and expand their efforts to ensure that their activities respect and promote non-discrimination and equal treatment for all people, especially those belonging to groups in a country with serious situations of vulnerability, such as transgender people” .
In the document, they denounce that “some media outlets have treated this news in a biased and negative manner toward the transgender population,” reminding directors of these media outlets “of their obligation to exercise due diligence in humane terms.” act”. Rights”. Sofía Carrillo, an Afrofeminist journalist and specialist in sexual and reproductive rights, observes: “There is no guarantee that trans women pose a risk because of their gender identity.” “The evidence tells us that girls are at risk, even in in their closest environment, in their family environment, and we have to talk about it in all areas.”The high number of sexual assaults on girls and the high level of impunity make it clear to us that our focus must be on prevention and sanctioning, because those who kill girls rape and abuse are not trans women, they are cisgender and straight men,” he stresses.
Last week, the collective Féminas Perú, which groups trans women, went to the Public Ministry in Lima, where they filed a formal complaint against Olga Izquierdo, the user who sparked the controversy. “Trans women are not dangerous, we are in danger,” read their banners. A few days ago, the Regulatory Authority for Public Transport Infrastructure Investments (Ositran) asked Lima Airport Partners to withdraw the signs, saying they “caused user confusion”. “We respect gender identity and are against any form of discrimination,” they clarified. The operating company of Jorge Chávez Airport has not yet commented on the matter, but insists on its position: nothing has happened in two years.
Recording the viral video on TikTok. Photo: RR. HH | Video: HR HH
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