Maltese LGBTIQ Activist Who Called Emma Watson Out For ‘She’ Reference To Run For MEP Elections
Mina Tolu is an experienced LGBTI+ activist
In a few years, Mina Tolu has gone from founding a LGBTI+ organisation at the University of Malta to publicly correcting Emma Watson for referring to them as “she”.
And, after three years in Germany, Mina, 27, will now return to their old stomping ground to context next year’s European Parliament election with green party Alternattiva Demokratika.
Mina was one of three MEP candidates announced by AD today, along with leader Carmel Cacopardo and former leader Arnold Cassola.
“Mina believes that only by electing green politicians can we ensure a future in which our economy, our quality of life, and our planet will no longer be held hostage by big corporations that put profit before people,” the green party said,
As a university student, Mina founded the LGBTIQ student organisation ‘We Are’, which gave them a platform to help consult the government on the landmark civil unions and gender identity laws.
They then joined the executive board of the International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organisation, before becoming the communications officer of the Transgender Europe network.
It was in this role that they called out Emma Watson at a global young leaders’ forum in Canada a few years ago. The Harry Potter actress was chairing a panel about gender stereotypes, which Mina was participating in, and at one point they referred to the Maltese activist as “she”.
Mina used this as an example about the need to break societal norms many take for granted and the need for equality for transgender and gender nonconforming people.
Besides LGBTI+ issues, Mina is also an experienced environmental campaigner, having worked for the anti spring hunting campaign in Malta in 2016.
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