CitizenGO explained

CitizenGO
Method:Internet activism, online petitions
Founded Date:2013 in Madrid, Spain
Headquarters:Paseo de la Habana 200, Madrid, Spain
Predecessor:HazteOir[1] [2] [3]
Area Served:Worldwide

CitizenGO is an ultra-conservative[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] advocacy group founded in Madrid, Spain, in 2013 by the ultra-Catholic and far-right[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] HazteOir organization, a similar Spanish platform that has been dedicated to the fight against "gender ideology" since 2001.

The foundation aims to be "a community of active citizens that seeks to promote the participation of society in politics" and "defend and promote life, family, and liberty."[15] It promotes petitions in 50 countries, mostly defending Christian causes,[16] and those opposing same-sex marriage,[17] [18] abortion,[19] [20] and euthanasia.[21]

History

CitizenGO was founded in Madrid, Spain, in September 2013 by HazteOir, (whose founder and president is also Ignacio Arsuaga),[22] to expand its scope of action beyond Spanish-speaking countries, advancing the use of online petitions as a form of Internet activism to increase public participation in the democratic process. In appealing to potential donors early into CitizenGO's existence, the founder and president Ignacio Arsuaga stated: "CitizenGO will produce a social benefit that we trust will impact human history. Abortionists, the homosexual lobby, radical secularists, and champions of relativism will find themselves behind CitizenGO's containment wall".

CitizenGO says that they have "team members located in fifteen cities on three continents" who facilitate users signing petitions in 50 countries and 8 languages, with plans to add more. The CitizenGO Foundation is financially supported by online donations made by their members. The CEO of CitizenGO is Álvaro Zulueta. The CitizenGO Foundation Board of Trustees is composed of Ignacio Arsuaga, Walter Hintz, Blanca Escobar, Luca Volontè (Unione dei Democratici Cristiani politician), Brian S. Brown (president of the anti-LGBT rights National Organization for Marriage),[23] Gualberto García, Alexey Komov (Russian Representative of the pro-Christian right World Congress of Families, considered a close ally of pro-Vladimir Putin oligarch Konstantin Malofeev),[24] [25] Alejandro Bermudez, and John-Henry Westen.

In 2001, lawyer Ignacio Arsuaga founded HazteOir (literally, "Make yourself heard"). This organization later merged into and became part of CitizenGO, a move that was considered a "rebranding".

The foundation has been linked, like HazteOir, to El Yunque, a secret society of Mexican regional origin.[26] [27] [28] [29]

In 2021, CitizenGO board member Luca Volontè was sentenced to four years in prison for accepting bribes from Azerbaijan during the Azerbaijani laundromat in exchange for suppressing a report on Azerbaijan's human rights record. Some of these laundered funds were transferred to CitizenGO.[30]

Activities

Abortion and euthanasia

CitizenGO promotes campaigns opposing abortion and euthanasia. CitizenGO has opposed the introduction of the "Estrela report" into the European parliament, which recommends member states to provide comprehensive sex education in schools and ensure access to abortions, among other things.

In late May 2019, CitizenGO hosted a petition by "Right to Life" calling on streaming service Netflix to stop funding a legal challenge to Georgia's controversial heartbeat abortion restriction bill. The group also called for subscribers to cancel their Netflix subscription as a sign of protest.[31]

It has also supported African activist Ann Kioko's campaign to investigate pro-abortion rights group Marie Stopes International. After Kioko was put on trial CitizenGO used their platform to promote the idea that the Kenyan government wants to censor the protests of CitizenGO and other anti-abortion outlets.[32]

Jennifer Swayne case

CitizenGO promoted a campaign of support when physically disabled Jennifer Swayne, an anti-trans activist, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.[33] The stickers reportedly contained no illegal items, but did include loaded questions like "Are you happy for your 13 year old daughter to shower next to an adult man. Yes or no?"[34] She was handled painfully at arrest, said to have been held for 10 hours without her medications, and the police went ahead to search her house on release. The case ended up with the Crown Prosecution Service unable to charge her.[35] [36]

Defense of the Russian gay propaganda law

In 2013, CitizenGO signed a declaration in support of the Russian law which had the stated purpose of protecting children from being exposed to homosexuality,[37] [38] but had the practical effect that hate crimes against LGBTQ people increased by two to three times soon after its introduction.[39]

Second Coming comic series

In February 2019, CitizenGO organized a petition calling on DC Vertigo to cancel Mark Russell and Richard Pace's Second Coming comic series, which they regarded as blasphemous for its depiction of Jesus Christ.[40] [41] Russell subsequently confirmed that it had been his decision to request the return of the rights to the series.[42] [43]

2019 Disneyland "Magical Parade"

In late May 2018, CitizenGO circulated a petition calling on Disneyland Paris to cancel a scheduled pride parade called the "Magical Parade" on 1 June 2019.[44] [45] The Walt Disney Company rejected the petition and the Magical Parade went ahead in Paris.[46] [47]

LGBT rights and reproductive health misinformation campaign in Kenya

CitizenGO Africa opposes decriminalising homosexuality in Kenya.[48] According to a 2021 investigation by Mozilla Foundation, it also engaged in spreading misinformation concerning reproductive health policy in the country through a tweets and hashtags on Twitter as well as paying Kenyans to also tweet against debated legislation, which aimed to develop guidelines for surrogacy as well as improving reproductive health care and rights.[49] [50]

Paradise PD TV series

CitizenGO started a campaign to have the episode "Trigger Warning" from the TV series Paradise PD removed from Netflix. This is because of a depiction of Jesus Christ, in which he is seen attacking his persecutors with machine guns and having sex with two women.[51]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BOE.es – Documento BOE-A-2013-9106. es.
  2. Web site: HazteOír desaparece dejando paso a CitizenGo. Infovaticana. 31 January 2017. es.
  3. Web site: Los ultracatólicos de HazteOir cambian de marca para limpiar su imagen. Eldiario.es. 2 February 2017. es.
  4. Web site: Warum ist Europa wichtig? (7). Corinna. Gekeler. 30 April 2014. In den vergangenen zehn Jahren hat sich die Anzahl der Lobby-Büros von ultrakonservativen Gruppen in Brüssel verfünffacht..
  5. Web site: Revealed: the Trump-linked 'Super PAC' working behind the scenes to drive Europe's voters to the far right. Adam. Ramsey. 25 April 2019. OpenDemocracy. CitizenGo was set up in 2013 – the same year as Vox – as an ultra-conservative version of the progressive campaign platforms Avaaz.org and MoveOn.org..
  6. Web site: Trump takes war on abortion worldwide as policy cuts off funds. 17 May 2019. The Guardian. Just as hostile to LGBTI rights and abortion is the ultraconservative CitizenGO, started in Spain but now promoting petitions in 50 countries..
  7. Why a Children's Book Is Becoming a Symbol of Resistance in Hungary's Fight Over LGBT Rights. 8 October 2020. Time. organized by ultra-conservative campaign group CitizenGO.
  8. News: Activists in Kenya to keep fighting for abortion rights after end of Roe. 5 July 2022. The Washington Post. Among these groups is CitizenGO, an ultraconservative Spain-based petition mill..
  9. News: Spain's 'transphobic bus' rolls on to the streets of Manhattan. 23 March 2017. El País. Banned at home, ultraconservative group internationalizes its anti-transgender campaign.
  10. Web site: HazteOir 'rompe' con Vox por no exigir la derogación de las leyes LGBTI en Murcia y Madrid. 5 August 2019 .
  11. Web site: Hazte Oír vuelve a la carga con un autobús en contra del feminismo: "No es violencia de género, es violencia doméstica". 28 February 2019 . La organización de extrema derecha, conocida por su dura posición en contra del colectivo LGTBI,.
  12. Web site: Un autobús ultra recorrerá València con mensajes machistas por el 8-M. 28 February 2019 . La asociación de extrema derecha.
  13. Web site: Anti-trans bus to stop in D.C. next week. 28 March 2017 . HazTeOir, which is CitizenGO’s far-right Catholic affiliate in Spain that translates into "Make yourself heard,".
  14. Book: La "ideología de género" frente a los derechos sexuales y reproductivos. El escenario español. Mónica Cornejo-Valle. J. Ignacio Pichardo. cadernos pagu. 1809-4449.
  15. Web site: What is CitizenGO?. 12 July 2013. CitizenGO.
  16. Web site: defence of Christian values. In Defence of Our Values. Mateusz Wyrwich. Sunday Catholic Weekly (Poland).
  17. Web site: The Rise Of Europe's Religious Right. J. Lester Feder. Buzzfeed. 29 July 2014. As quoted byWeb site: The Religious Right Makes Friends Across The Atlantic. Miranda Blue. 28 August 2014. Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way.
  18. Web site: The war for Families in Europe continues, says CitizenGo. 5 February 2014. Christian Concern.
  19. Web site: The Fight For Marriage Equality In The Pope's Backyard. Volontè is also on the board of CitizenGo, a globalizing online mobilizing platform that grew out of the Spanish organization instrumental in promoting a bill to restrict abortion enacted in 2010.. Lester Feder. Buzzfeed. 2 July 2014.
  20. Web site: El Salvador's Right-Wing Media Begins Sustained Campaign Against Releasing 17 Women Imprisoned on Abortion-Related Charges. RH Reality Check. CitizenGO, a Madrid-based Christian foundation whose principles include the belief that life begins at conception.. 11 August 2014.
  21. News: 'Don't euthanize kids': Spaniards tell Belgium. 27 February 2014. TheLocal.es.
  22. Web site: CitizenGo FOIA Research . 2023-04-26 . www.foiaresearch.net.
  23. Web site: NOM Praises Roy Moore For Standing Against 'Judicial Tyranny' On Marriage. Miranda Blue. 2 February 2015. Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way.
  24. El Yunque, al descubierto . 23 February 2017 . Equipo de investigación . . 1 . 186 . 49:30 . es.
  25. Web site: Szélsőjobbos orosz oligarchákhoz köthető, 9 millió embert mozgató hálózat kampányol minálunk. Népszava. CitizenGo is affiliated via board member Alexey Komov to Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeev, who is close to the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox Church, and has supported separatists in Ukraine's Donetsk region, as well as far-right groups in the European Union..
  26. Web site: Quién está detras´de los lobbies ultracatólicos que arremeten contra las mujeres y el colectivo LGTBI. HazteOir, CitizenGo, Profesionales por la Ética, Centro Tomás Moro, Abogados Cristianos, Más Libres, Instituto para la Política Familiar, Organización del Bien Común... Son los lobbies ultracatólicos, que cuentan con el apoyo más o menos directo de una parte de la Conferencia Episcopal Española.. Eldiario.es. 3 October 2016. es.
  27. News: El lobby ultraderechista español que mueve los hilos del movimiento antigay en México. El País. es.
  28. Web site: Asociación yunquista en España entrega firmas contra iniciativa de Peña sobre matrimonios gay. El documento que presentaron a la embajada mexicana tenía la portada el nombre de CitizenGo, una de las organizaciones que ofrece apoyo internacional al Frente Nacional por la Familia, en México, y que el periodista de Proceso, Álvaro Delgado identificó como una de los tentáculos de El Yunque español que están detrás de las movilizaciones en México. Proceso. Alejandro. Gutiérrez. 23 September 2016. es.
  29. News: Hazte Oír, la "guerrilla" del ultracatolicismo español. El País. es. Las denuncias de su vinculación con el Yunque empezaron a alejar a Hazte Oír de varios altos cargos de la Iglesia. De hecho, tras una sentencia de un juzgado de Madrid que consideró "contrastado y acreditado" la relación entre miembros de ambas organizaciones, el obispo de Getafe y el arzobispo de Toledo anunciaron que no apoyarían las iniciativas del colectivo liderado por Arsuaga y le instaba a desaparecer de sus parroquias..
  30. News: Sian Norris . The Money Men Behind CitizenGO's Anti-Rights Agenda . 28 September 2021 . Byline Times . 21 June 2021.
  31. Web site: Demand Netflix backs off Georgia – Cancel your subscription now . CitizenGO . 7 June 2019 . 30 May 2019.
  32. Web site: Help me to defend the lives of the unborn in Kenya . CitizenGo . 14 April 2021 . 9 April 2021.
  33. News: 2022-04-14 . No charges over allegedly abusive Newport trans stickers . 2024-06-13 . en-GB.
  34. Web site: CitizenGO . 2024-06-13 . citizengo.org.
  35. News: 27 January 2022 . Newport: Nothing hateful in stickers, says arrested woman . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-09-02.
  36. Web site: CitizenGO . 27 January 2022 . Tell Gwent police to use common sense . 2023-09-02 . CitizenGO . en-gb.
  37. Web site: Brian Brown extends his anti-LGBT activism across the globe. GLAAD. 23 July 2021. 14 January 2014. 17 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117202834/https://www.glaad.org/blog/brian-brown-extends-his-anti-lgbt-activism-across-globe. dead.
  38. Web site: The document hosted in the website of Profesionales por la Ética. https://web.archive.org/web/20150911063139/https://profesionalesetica.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Statement-in-support-of-Russia-with-signing-entities-v-15092013.pdf. 23 July 2021. 2015-09-11.
  39. Katsuba . Sergey . 2024-04-02 . The Decade of Violence: A Comprehensive Analysis of Hate Crimes Against LGBTQ in Russia in the Era of the "Gay Propaganda Law" (2010–2020) . Victims & Offenders . en . 19 . 3 . 395–418 . 10.1080/15564886.2023.2167142 . 1556-4886. free .
  40. Web site: DC Comics to release blasphemous series about Jesus . CitizenGO . 7 June 2019 . 14 February 2019.
  41. Web site: Aguilar . Matthew . Over 100K People Sign Petition For DC Comics To Pull Second Coming Comic Book . Comicbook.com . 7 June 2019 . 31 January 2019.
  42. McMillan . Graeme . DC Vertigo Cancels 'Second Coming' of Jesus Comic Book Series . 7 June 2019 . . 13 February 2019.
  43. News: Flood . Alison . DC cancels comic where Jesus learns from superhero after outcry . 7 June 2019 . . 19 February 2019.
  44. Web site: STOP LGBT indoctrination at Disneyland . 28 May 2019 . CitizenGO . 19 June 2019.
  45. Web site: Provost . Claire . Who's afraid of LGBT superheroes? . . 19 June 2019 . 14 June 2019.
  46. Web site: Duke . Barry . Disney refuses to accept anti-gay petition, tells bigot to get lost . . 19 June 2019 . 13 June 2019.
  47. News: Megarry . Daniel . Disneyland just made history with their first ever Pride parade . 19 June 2019 . . 5 June 2019.
  48. Web site: Kenya stands firm at the United Nations after CitizenGOers pressure. https://web.archive.org/web/20200212174936/http://hazteoir.org/noticia/93168-over-3000-signatures-were-delivered-office-attorney-general-demanding-he-defends-life. dead. 2020-02-12. en.
  49. Web site: Exporting Disinformation: How Foreign Groups Peddle Influence in Kenya through Twitter. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220222143302/https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/campaigns/exporting-disinformation-how-foreign-groups-peddle-influence-in-kenya-through-twitter/ . 2022-02-22 .
  50. Web site: New evidence of thriving 'disinformation industry' on Twitter is worrying as Kenya gears for elections in August 2022. 22 February 2022 .
  51. Web site: Tell Netflix to Pull offensive depictions of Jesus . CitizenGO . 1 June 2021 . 26 May 2021.

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