Rodrigo Cuevas has received numerous awards in his career, but the one he collected on Friday in Madrid is special: “It is a recognition from the people of the group, from your people, from those who are with you. It excites me a lot.” The LGTBI+ State Federation organized a new edition of the Plumas y Látigos awards in Madrid with the defense of LGTBI+ culture as a key to visibility and reclamation of rights, “a refuge and a space of resistance”. “Culture naturalizes our realities, allows us to occupy spaces and generate references,” explained Paula Iglesias, president of Felgtbi+ of the Eslava Theater.
Together with Cuevas, the activist Uge Sangil was awarded; the social educator and popularizer Pitu Aparicio; the artist Estrella Xtravaganza; and the organization Plena Inclusion. Furthermore, two mentions were awarded to the organizations Regularización Ya and Grup d’Amics Gais, Lesbianes, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (GAG). For Sangil, president of Felgtbi+ between 2018 and 2024, “it is a prize for the struggle, the results obtained and equality. A prize to recognize what we have done during my presidency, when transnational law”.
Just last week, several representatives of the People’s Party met with thirty women’s associations in Congress and proposed repealing the convention transnational law (4/2023 for the real and effective equality of trans people and for the guarantee of the rights of LGTBI people), which is in full strategic development. Sangil is not surprised by the PP’s intentions. “But don’t be fooled by these women’s associations. They must be clear that the PP, in order to take power, will align itself with Vox, which denies the sexist violence that attacks and kills us. The PP is out of control,” she added.
The Plumas y Látigo celebration is one of the most important LGTBI+ events of the year. “A congregation of diversity and pen,” described the artist Samantha Hudson and the journalist David Andújar, presenters of the gala. More than 300 personalities from the fields of activism, culture, economics and politics gathered at the Eslava Theatre, such as Carla Antonelli (Más Madrid), who this year was chosen by parliamentary journalists as a candidate for senator of the year; o Julio del Valle (PSOE), director general of LGTBI+ at the Ministry of Equal Opportunities.
Before collecting his pen, Pitu Aparicio defined the award as “a recognition of the years of militancy and the moments in which I was able to think that comprehensive sexual education was not so important”. The social educator and popularizer has conducted seminars on self-knowledge for women or sex education for young people. “Comprehensive sexual education has not harmed anyone, but silence has oppressed and emasculated many families for 50 years and has generated enormous gaps.”
“This award vindicates the pen, at a time when it must be valued more than ever. Long live the pen!”, encouraged Rodrigo Cuevas. “Some time ago I wanted to hide my pen, but how lucky I am that I didn’t silence it,” Estrella Xtravanganza added.
For her part, Edith Espínola, spokesperson for Regularización Ya, stated that the mention her organization received demonstrates that “the struggle of migrants and against racism is at the heart of the social transformations we need.” “This award makes visible the fight against colonialism, patriarchy and capitalism that displace and make lives precarious. It puts migrants at the center of the debate from a rights perspective, firmly addressing hate radicalization and anti-immigration discourses,” he said.
Traditionally in this event, in addition to the Feathers, the Whip was donated, which distinguishes those who have deepened discrimination. “There is no shortage of candidates for the Whip award, but I prefer to give them a whip,” Pupi Poisson said from the stage.
Subsequently, the artist listed important figures for their LGBTI-biphobia and hatred: “Like the magistrate Francisco Javier Borrego, the neo-Nazis who persecuted migrants in Torrepacheco; the PP for trying to dismantle the Valencian LGBTI+ law; and all those who use our rights to justify a genocide. Stop the genocide in Gaza now.” “These people have too much visibility and we will no longer give them promotion. The Látigo award no longer exists. So Ayuso, you are not invited,” he added. Last year, the Whip went to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, “for her efforts to repeal regional trans and LGTBI+ laws, for promoting discrimination,” they argued. You will be the last person to receive it.
“We are angry,” underlined the president of Felgtbi+, “but we will not give them this pleasure.” “We are not a minority: there are many strange types who are not satisfied with crumbs. There are no half measures against attacks and LGBTIphobia. We want strong measures, we want a society in which we all fit in,” Iglesias continued in a vindictive and applauded speech. “We demand dignified lives and we will demand it with anger, but also in the way that hurts the most: with pride, joy, laughter and hope. Today we will celebrate.”
