Inamu official makes transphobic comment against trans FEUCR president.

2022 June 21

Alhana Chavarría, the first trans woman to serve as president of the Federation of Students of the University of Costa Rica (FEUCR), publicly denounced Kattia Calvo, chief of staff at the National Institute for Women (Inamu), for a transphobic comment. Calvo had commented on an article about transphobia in sports, using incorrect pronouns and disparaging the FEUCR’s work on trans inclusion.

Chavarría called for Calvo’s immediate removal, arguing that an official of Inamu, an institution meant to serve trans women, should not engage in transphobic conduct. Inamu rejected the accusation, calling it a “biased interpretation and unfounded accusation.” The episode drew attention to hostility toward trans people within a state institution.

News articles in Spanish:

• Presidenta FEUCR pide destitución inmediata de jefa de despacho del Inamu por comentario transfóbico - El Mundo CR
• Inamu tilda de “interpretación sesgada y acusación infundada” declaraciones de presidenta de la FEUCR - El Mundo CR
• Inamu: Acusación de presidenta de FEUCR a jefa de despacho por transfobia es lamentable - Semanario Universidad