Artist MAIO's Free Concert for the International Day against LGBTI-phobic Violence
MAIO will give a free concert at the UAB’s Theatre on 25 May at 12:30 p.m. for the 17M
16/05/2023
The Observatory for Equality is organising a free performance by the artist MAIO on 25 May at 12:30 p.m. at the UAB’s Theatre on occasion of the International Day against LGTBI-phobic Violence.
Maio Serrasolsas Moreno, born in Sant Andreu del Palomar (Barcelona) at the end of the 1990s, is an artist who combines intimate songs and festive rhythms in her first album, “Des dels marges”. Through her explicitly lesbian and transfeminist lyrics, she defends community empowerment and dissident sexualities. In fact, in an interview with the magazine Enderrock, she explained: “It is not enough to make LGBTI people visible only when they are the protagonists of a series and end up committing suicide”. This first album is, hence, a vindication of love, role models or labels. But Maio’s career began a decade ago with the “Akelarre” project, which she shares with her twin sister, Júlia Serrasolsas, from the Ginestà band.
27 May marks the Day against LGBTI-phobic Violence to raise awareness of the abuse and discrimination suffered by people with dissident sexualities. Thus, in 1990, the United Nations Organisation established the 17M to demand equal rights for this community. According to data from the Council of Europe, only 28 of the 47 member states provide any legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Moreover, 26 countries force transgender people to divorce. In terms of discrimination, ILGA-Europe's annual report shows that violence against LGBTI people is more pronounced on the European continent than it has been for the last twelve years. In Spain, the Ministry of the Interior recorded a 70 % increase in crimes based on sexual orientation last October.
These figures are proof of the need to commemorate this day. The UAB is committed to the fight for gender equality through different resources. The UAB has a guide for the incorporation of sexual and gender diversity in Catalan universities. It also has a protocol for action against sexual harassment and harassment based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression at the UAB. In addition, the IRIS LGBT+ association is a UAB student association that works for the vindication of the rights of LGBTI people.