Equality demands action against the sexist poster in Sagunto that shows a bull sexually subduing a woman

The Ministry of Equality has this Monday required the Sagunto City Council and the Federation of 'Peñas' to act against the sexist logo used by a bullfighting 'peña' during the last patron saint festivities. The Institute for Women has sent two official letters after receiving numerous complaints from individuals and associations representing more than 60 entities.

The image belongs to the 'peña' 'Un forat és un forat', translated as 'A hole is a hole', and depicts a bull sexually subjugating a naked woman. The drawing was accompanied by the phrase "pa una vesprà està bé", "for an afternoon it's fine", and was used as a logo on the 'cadafal' of the 'peña', t-shirts and other elements distributed during the festivities.

The patron saint festivities of Sagunto have been declared of Regional Tourist Interest. The Institute for Women considers that this recognition increases the responsibility of its organizers due to the presence of children and adolescents in events that occupy public space and form part of their social imaginary.

"It is necessary that this type of sexist and degrading messages have no place in celebrations that shape the social imaginary of minors", states the official letter signed on August 10 by the director of the Institute for Women, Cristina Hernández. The institution considers that the representation is "totally incompatible with the prestige and values that a festival of tourist interest should project".

The letter sent to the Federation of 'Peñas' includes another direct warning. "Humor cannot be used as a tool to denigrate, objectify or insult half of the population", states the Institute, which demands a review of the slogans, images and logos used by all participating groups.

The City Council asked to remove it during the festivities

The municipal Department of Equality learned of the existence of the logo on July 23 and warned that it should be removed for violating the principles of equality and citizen coexistence. The request was transferred through the Fiestas area to the responsible peña.

The group responded that the drawing had ceased to be an isolated poster and already appeared on numerous supports. According to the version provided by municipal sources, its representatives alleged that "they needed time to find a solution" because the image was printed on t-shirts and other identifying elements.

The City Council and the peña then agreed to create a working group to prevent similar images from being used again in future editions. The festivities ended on July 29 and the Consistory maintains that the poster is no longer displayed, although during the festivities it remained visible on the street and inside the bullring.

The Feminist Coordinator of Camp de Morvedre was the one who brought the case to public debate. The group denounced that a woman's body had been turned into an object of submission and mockery before the entire municipality, and demanded that the City Council review the permits granted and clarify whether there was any type of public funding.

"We are not asking for the party to end. We are asking for the party that is built by humiliating women to be funny to end," the organization stated. "The dignity of women is not in question. Neither at parties, nor outside of them," it added.

The controversy has also affected the far-right Vox. Several councilors and representatives of Santiago Abascal's party visited the peña and photographed themselves with its members and the sexist logo itself, despite the rejection expressed by institutions and feminist groups.

The Generalitat asks to review spaces and public aid

The Generalitat Valenciana has also demanded measures. The general director of Equality and of the Institute for Women, Davinia Bono, has asked the City Council to formally request the removal of all graphic elements and examine the collaborations, the transfer of spaces, and possible public subsidies related to the peña.

The City Council has specified that municipal aid is granted to the Federation of "Peñas" and not directly to each collective. The regional request now forces a review of whether the public resources and spaces used during the festivities were linked to the dissemination of the image.

The Women's Institute also reminds that Spanish legislation considers advertising messages that violate dignity or present women in a vexatious way to be illicit. Its official communications mention the obligations set forth in the laws against gender violence and for the comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom.

Equality has asked the City Council and the Federation to ensure that all posters, slogans, t-shirts, and logos respect the constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination. The Generalitat now expects the City Council to detail the actions taken and the measures planned before Sagunto celebrates its patron saint festivities again.