Spain’s congress just passed laws backing menstrual leave and gender self-identification
CanaryFeb 16, 2023
On Thursday, the Spanish legislature amended and passed two laws that bolster transgender and abortion rights and made Spain the first nation in Europe to offer workers paid menstrual leave.
The new abortion law allows girls 16 and older to obtain an abortion without parental consent and free menstruation products to be offered in schools and prisons. State-run healthcare centers will also provide free hormonal contraceptives and morning-after pills.
As other democracies are backsliding in their respect for human rights, including for women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, Spain has decided to uphold the rights of female and transgender citizens. As the first country in Europe and one of only a few nations globally, Spain's menstrual leave law strengthens its status as a world leader in women's rights. Likewise, the gender affirmation law shows that Madrid's tireless work toward abolishing transphobic legal obstacles has finally paid off.
While every one of these radical left-wing ideas is to some extent scary, the most dangerous among them is the transgender law. The issue isn't actually about "left versus right" but about protecting Spain's youth. Under the guise of promoting "trans rights," the proposal is pushing a radical endorsement of irreversible and dangerous procedures for vulnerable children, while encroaching on parental rights and responsibilities.