Amid calls for justice for the murder of Ayelén Gómez, a trans woman killed three weeks ago, the bill establishing a trans employment quota was scheduled to be debated today in the Tucumán Legislature. However, a procedural motion sent the bill to committee. “It’s the same as sending it to its death,” Fabián Vera del Barco told Presentes. The bill was to be debated this afternoon in the Tucumán Legislature, but legislator Raúl Albarracín (Radical Civic Union) made a procedural motion to send it to committee. “In legislative practice, it’s the same as sending the bill to its death. There was no political agreement,” Fabián Vera del Barco, an LGBTI activist and teacher at the Trans Educational Center (CETRANS), who was present in the chamber, told Presentes . The bill had received a favorable opinion from the Social Legislation Committee and the Human Rights Committee based on two submitted proposals. One of the proposals, from legislator Nancy Bulacio (Crece-PJ), suggested the highest quota (2%) for transgender people in public administration. The other, from legislator José Canelada (Unión Cívica Radical, UCR), proposed 1%. The final ruling established 1%.

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The legislative debate was scheduled to take place today amid calls for justice for Ayelén Gómez from social and human rights organizations. Ayelén was a 31-year-old trans woman who was murdered three weeks ago. and whose body was found at the Lawn Tennis Club in Tucumán on August 12.

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“They’re letting the project die because of the Church lobby. The Diocese of Tucumán has a lot of influence in the Legislature; they’re always negotiating. That’s why they don’t address any projects related to sexual diversity or reproductive health,” Vera del Barco added. Presents She contacted legislator Bulacio, but she will not be making any statements at this time. This afternoon, at 7 p.m., members of Cetrans and feminist activists will meet to decide on the next steps.