In an event moderated by journalist Kattalin Miner and member of the Eihera cooperative, Ane Uribarren (Arrasate, 2005) and Oihan Zubizarreta (Arrasate, 1985) spoke. Initially, Nerea Loron La Furia was also scheduled to participate but could not attend due to a last-minute unforeseen circumstance.
Miner clearly stated the session's objective: "We want to make Arrasate more liveable for us; because what is more liveable for the LGTBQI+ community, is more liveable for everyone." Both young people spoke from their personal experiences.
For Zubizarreta, the years spent in Bilbao during university studies were "liberating," after which they returned to Arrasate. There, they emphasized that Arrasate is "as much a nest as a cage." "Normativity operates in our daily lives, in our circle of friends," they stated. Although Arrasate has "progressive" characteristics, "many of the practices, thoughts, frameworks, and attitudes that are reproduced are conservative and traditional, and in that sense, it is a cage."
Zubizarreta, a member of the group Morbor Arrasate, also addressed the idea of visibility. "We are much more visible than a few years ago, yes, but it is frustrating to see that we cannot function as a more organized community at the town level." Nevertheless, they conveyed a positive message: "What has been gained in transfeminism cannot be lost, and I am convinced that society would respond to that. We must continue building community, it is very important."
Ane Uribarren, a member of the Trasmaribibollo movement, indicated that Arrasate has two faces. "I love Arrasate, but it is a small town with two faces; on one hand, it offers closeness, we know our neighbours. At the same time, however, Arrasate brings pressure; here it is clear that normativity prevails." Among young people, at this key moment of identity formation, "the norm is widespread, dictating, among other things, how to dress, how to flirt, and what body to desire." According to Uribarren, "Arrasate is home, but not always; we have to be careful sometimes." "I would like Arrasate to be a breathing space. Young people lack role models in Arrasate; role models are not yet that visible. There are many unorganized drag queens, lesbians, and dissidents in the town."
The program will conclude on Sunday with a gathering in the Herriko Plaza (12:30), followed by a musicalized "kuir-poteo" (queer pub crawl).
