Hostile school environment and no government partnership with civil society: -5/10 | There is no evidence of the government providing funding or working in partnership with civil society: 0/10 | The government provides funding and works in partnership with civil society to promote inclusive education for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10
The anti-gender rhetoric in Spain has become stronger and louder, used by the media, public figures, and parties alike, including the Feminist Party and the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). It has impacted the outcome of the legal gender recognition law reform process, which had already been stalled for three years.
Anti-LGBTQI discrimination and hate crimes, including murder, continue to be common. In some cases, young people are also targeted. In 2020, an 11-year-old was hospitalised after being physically assaulted by a young person. In the same year, a 17-year-old lesbian youth committed suicide after being bullied.
A number of hostile incidents have taken place in the past few years. In 2019, for instance, anti-LGBTQI posters were put up in schools across Murcia. In the same year, a Catholic organisation spread thousands of leaflets in schools, calling for mandatory parental consent before children can participate in lessons about LGBTQI rights. The local government in Murcia approved the suggestion and the ‘parental PIN’ has been enforced since. Still in 2019, the implementation of a protocol to protect trans students was suspended in Castilla and Leon.
FELGTB has published studies on the situation of LGBTI young people, including ‘Trans youth in the education system’ (2019) and ‘Reality of trans students in the educational system’ (2021).
NGOs receive regular state and regional funding. In 2020, however, some funding was withdrawn in Madrid.
In 2023, a 12-year-old trans boy committed suicide in Barcelona in February due to transphobic bullying in school. A 15-year-old trans girl also committed suicide in Mallorca in the same year, in what could have been the consequence of transphobic bullying in school.
In 2023, COGAM’s study found that 35% of students in Madrid have prejudices towards LGBTI classmates (2019: 15%). 7% of LGBT and 17% of trans students suffered insults. 42% of students would prefer if their partner was not bisexual.
In 2024, FELGTBI+, in collaboration with the "Comisiones Obreras" (Workers' Commissions) union, published the report titled Perspectives on the Situation of LGBTQI Teachers in Non-Regulated Teaching University Students. This report marked the first sectoral study on the working conditions of teaching staff in relation to Law 4/2023.
The government provides funding and works in partnership with NGOs in the promotion of LGBTQI inclusive education.
