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On Wednesday, the first hearing was held regarding the five injunctions filed against the Buenos Aires City Ministry of Education's resolution prohibiting the use of inclusive language in the city's schools . Outside the Court of First Instance for Administrative and Tax Matters, located at 150 Suipacha Street, activists and teachers gathered and held an open-air radio broadcast.

"The hearing went well. Those who requested it were able to ask questions that highlighted the lack of arguments and coherence in the measure that prohibits inclusive language in schools," María Rachid, a member of the board of directors of the Argentine Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans (FALGBT), Presentes

He added: "The City government insisted that the resolution did not include a prohibition and at the same time accepted that those who do not comply will be sanctioned."

Without knowing what inclusive language is

Celeste Fierro, a leader of the MST, told Presentes that the representatives of the City government showed "great weakness in explaining the limits of what the regulations cover. Furthermore, they did not understand or develop what inclusive and non-binary language is."

"In all the appeals we have requested a precautionary measure to suspend the action, and that is not currently in place, so we are reiterating our request," Fierro added.

Also present during the hearing was Diana Maffía, director of the Gender Observatory in Justice of the Council of Magistrates of the city of Buenos Aires.

"The Observatory stated that the guides cited by the government were incomplete, as they omitted a part," Rachid said, referring to guides developed through Maffía's coordination to work in schools on gender and inclusive language.

Myths about learning

The plaintiffs also inquired about studies or opinions that argue that inclusive language hinders learning, one of the reasons cited by the Ministry of Education when issuing the resolution.

"They didn't end up answering it. It's something we argue is completely false, and in fact, they didn't include it in their responses to our appeals. It's unverifiable because there are no studies that support it," Fierro stated.

There is currently no date set for the next hearing because the court recess is beginning. 

"Together with the various legal representatives of the plaintiffs, we will file a motion to expedite the injunction. We want it processed quickly and will request a recess if necessary. We see the injunction as urgent because, as this resolution progresses, they could proceed with sanctions against the teachers," Fierro concluded.

The injunction holders

The injunctions against Resolution 2566/2020 were filed by representatives of the FALGBT; the left-wing leaders, Celeste Fierro and Vanessa Gagliardi of the MST in the FIT Unidad; and the Buenos Aires legislator Laura Velasco (Frente de Todos) together with Nadie Corina Da Rosa.

Also filing injunctions were the legislator from Frente de Todos, María Bielli, along with the director of the Mocha Celis Transvestite Popular High School, Francisco Quiñones Cuartas, Camile Kirchoff, Mercedes Gregorini and Lune Abril Quiroga; in addition to the representatives of Nuevo Más, Federico Winokur, Inés Zadunaisky, Manuela Castañeira and Violeta Alonso.

The National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (Inadi) presented itself as «Amicus Curiae/ Friends of the Court».