Madrid court bans Catholic group’s anti-transgender bus from the road (PHOTOS)
A Catholic organization opposing transgender recognition in Spain says it will not be deterred from spreading its message after a judge in Madrid ordered one of its slogans to be removed from the side of a bus.
Hazte Oir, a conservative group founded in 2001, will not be allowed to use its so-called ‘Freedom Bus’ in public until its anti-transgender slogan is removed.
— Señorita Puri (@SenoritaPuri) February 28, 2017
The orange bus, which had been due to tour cities in Spain, is emblazoned with the message: “Boys have penises. Girls have vulvas. Don’t let them fool you. If you are born a man, you are a man. If you are a woman, you will continue to be one.”
READ MORE: Transphobic ‘bus of hat’ to tour major Spanish cities (VIDEO)
Following Madrid’s City Council’s opposition to the bus campaign, a local court ruled that the vehicle cannot be driven in public because it could harm the “dignity” of people with a “different” sexual orientation, reported El Mundo.
Hazte Oir, which translates as ‘Make Yourself Heard’, stoked controversy last month with the slogan, which was labeled a “hate” message by People’s Party politician Javier Maroto.
“Do not be fooled,” Maroto tweeted on February 28, “[It is] a campaign of hatred of LGTB”.
Que no te engañen, dicen 😳😳 Impresentable campaña a favor del odio al #LGTB. No vale todo pic.twitter.com/eGqWRvMf4F
— Javier Maroto (@JavierMaroto) February 28, 2017
With the Hatze Oir bus off the road, the group has since launched a motorhome vehicle with a new message: “Do boys have a penis? Do girls have a vulva?”
In a statement, Hatze Oir said the yellow vehicle will “circulate in and around Madrid”.
¡El nuevo vehículo de la campaña #ElBusDeLaLibertad ya está en la calle!✌️😉 pic.twitter.com/gpHWjKHQF6
— HazteOir.org (@hazteoir) March 3, 2017
President of the group, Ignacio Arsuaga said their campaign will continue despite Thursday’s decision to block the ‘Freedom Bus’ slogan.
“Our campaign is in favor of the fundamental right of families to educate their children in freedom, according to their values,” Arsuaga said. “But because of the bus hijacking, it has also become a campaign for the right to express our ideas in public spaces.”