Spain, Europe

The rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered persons in Spain have undergone several drastic changes in recent decades. Today Spain provides one of the highest degrees of liberty in the world for its LGBT community. Today, Spain is one of the six countries around the world that allows same-sex marriage and has the most progressive laws, since they also permit adoption by same-sex couples. Same-gender marriage and adoption were legalized by the Spanish Legislature under the administration of socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in 2005.

 

News & Reports:

 

Gran Canaria: Explore the island’s quirky side and stay in style

The Spanish island is one of the most LGBTI-friendly places on the planet… If you haven’t already visited Gran Canaria, you’ve heard of it by reputation. The Spanish island is one of the most LGBTI-friendly places on the planet and its gay scene is unmissable. The third biggest of Spain’s Canary Islands is also one… Read more »

Spain’s new PM appoints two gay ministers to cabinet

Cabinet now has more women and gay men than heterosexual men Spain’s newly installed government has appointed two openly gay men as cabinet ministers. It’s the first time the country has had such a large LGBT representation in the government’s cabinet office. Mariano Rajoy, the previous prime minister, stepped down last week. He left following… Read more »

The lesbian pioneers who fooled Spain’s Catholic Church

There was something unusual about the fresh-faced groom that day. The priest at the San Jorge church in A Coruña, north-western Spain, didn’t see anything special, and the smattering of relatives in attendance weren’t saying anything. But both ‘Mario’ and his bride, Marcela, were women. It was 1901, and the union between Elisa and Marcela… Read more »

Free open air concerts, 7 different performing stages, parties, art, culture, sport… and all of them in the gay neighbourhood Chueca at the very centre of the city.

WorldPride Madrid 2017 is the global LGBTIQ Pride festival to be held in the neighbourhood of Chueca and the main streets of Madrid. A great festival to celebrate, discuss and show diversity, culminating in the World Pride Parade, which will be the world’s largest Pride parade ever! Read More Here! Source – World Pride Madrid

Barcelona pageant celebrates transgender women

Barcelona, Spain (AP) — Despite facing violence and discrimination in many countries, 28 transgender women found a place to shine. The women competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europe’s largest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of events aimed at celebrating a population more often condemned.… Read more »

Spain’s First Openly Gay Soccer Referee Is Getting Multiple Death Threats

But Jesús Tomillero vows to continue in the sport “whatever it costs” Spain’s first openly gay referee has said he is going to carry on “whatever the cost,” after being threatened with death by homophobic fans, according to a report in the Guardian. Jesús Tomillero, a referee in the southern Spain’s Andalusian league, received the… Read more »

Olympic Water Polo Player Comes Out Ahead of Rio Games

Víctor Gutiérrez said he “felt a responsibility to share it with others.” Move over, Tom Daley. There’s a new out summer Olympic hopeful jumping in the pool. Víctor Gutiérrez, 25, who plays on the Spanish water polo headed to Rio this summer, came out publicly as gay in an interview with Shangay magazine. In his… Read more »

Abuse At Games Drives Gay Spanish Soccer Referee To Quit

Jesus Tomillero, believed to be the first openly gay registered Spanish soccer referee, is quitting his job over being the target of verbal abuse at games. “I can’t stand it anyone,” Tomillero told the AP. The 21-year-old came out gay 18 months ago on social media. A part-time referee and waiter, Tomillero said that the… Read more »

Spain: Catalonia passes gay anti-discrimination law

In a first for Spain, the autonomous community of Catalonia has passed a law which will punish attacks against the LGBT community with fines of up to €14,000 (£11,000). According to The Local, the divisive vote on Thursday received the backing of left-wing groups but was opposed by Catalan nationalists and conservatives. Regional representatives of… Read more »

Spain: Gay and lesbian retirement home to open in Madrid

A retirement home for gay and lesbian pensioners is to be opened in Madrid. The home, developed by the 26 December Foundation, will be opened next year in a state-of-the-art converted hotel in Lavapiés. Federico Armenteros, the foundation’s president, told the Guardian that society “thinks elderly LGTB don’t exist”. He said the home would not… Read more »

Over one million people descend on Madrid Pride

The Spanish capital’s gay pride celebrations started on Wednesday and conclude today with marches, festivals and more parties Madrid Pride, dubbed by some as ‘Europe’s biggest party’ draws to a close today. According to Spanish newspaper El País, two of the country’s leading LGBT rights groups Cogam and the Spanish LGBT Federation (FELGTB) estimated 1.2… Read more »

Fire at Yumbo: Suspected arson attack on Gran Canaria gay pride

Police arrest suspected arsonist after four gay businesses at Yumbo Center go up in smoke during Maspalomas Gay Pride Unconfirmed reports suggest a suspected arsonist has been detained by Spanish police for setting on fire four gay establishments at the Yumbo Center during Maspalomas Gay Pride. At the time of writing, at least four terraces… Read more »

How Spain is designing a sporting future free of gay hate

LGBT sports organizations around the world continue to play a key role in eliminating homophobia from sport Continuing our mission to profile the LGBT sports organizations of the world, we meet graphic designer Ricardo Mendi Serrano, communications officer for Elaios LGBT sports club which is based in Spain’s fifth largest city – Zaragoza. When was… Read more »

Gay marriage in Spain affirmed by top court, justices reject appeal to knock down 2005 law

Madrid — Spain’s Constitutional Court upheld the legality of the country’s gay marriage law on Tuesday, rejecting an appeal contending that marriage in the Spanish constitution means only the union of a man and woman. The county’s top court voted 8-3 to dismiss the appeal of the conservative Popular Party filed shortly after Spain became… Read more »

Travel: Barcelona’s ten-day Circuit Festival returns (part two)

Danny Hilton talks to Tes Cuadreny (Communication Manager & Girlie Circuit Director) about Circuit Festival Barcelona – in the second of two parts, we get the lo-down on Circuit rival events, Girlie Circuit and smash some Circuit party stereotypes. What do you think about the rival gay ‘Olympic Gaymes’ events? I saw the advertising for… Read more »

Travel: Barcelona’s ten-day Circuit Festival returns (part one)

Danny Hilton talks to Tes Cuadreny, Communications Manager & Girlie Circuit Director, about Circuit Festival Barcelona – in the first of two parts, we find out how Circuit started, what it involves and how such an event is holding up in the economic crisis. How did the Barcelona Circuit Festival start? About five years ago… Read more »

Spain’s Jose Zapatero Says He’s Proudest Of Gay Marriage On His Way Out

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spain’s former prime minister, says passing a gay marriage law is his proudest achievement. Mariano Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party (PP) won control of Parliament in a landslide victory last month as Spain shifted hard to the right while struggling under piles of debt and sky-high unemployment. The power shift… Read more »

Gay Spain News & Reports 2009-11

LGBT web site for Iberia 1 Court rules Spanish children cannot opt out of gay rights class 1/09 2 Latido unveils first gay Basque film 2/09 3 Beckham subjected to homophobic abuse during match 2/09 4 The Balearic Islands 3/09 5 Celebrating in…SITGES 6/09 6 Travel feature: Bella Barcelona 7/09 7 Spanish Village of Rainbow… Read more »

Gay Spain News & Reports 2006-08

LGBT web site for Iberia: http://www.gayiberia.com/home.html 1 Divorce proceedings 6/06 2 Gays marry during pope’s Spain visit 7/06 3 Conservative mayor presides over gay wedding 7/06 4 Un botellazo por "maricón" 11/06 5 Mayor of Madrid gives exclusive interview to leading Spanish gay magazine 5/07 6 Boutique opens for Barcelona’s gay ‘brides’ 5/07 7 Spanish… Read more »

Gay Spain News & Reports 2005

LGBT web site for Iberia: http://www.gayiberia.com/home.html 1 Spain Tells Pope To Stay Out Of Gay Marriage Debate 1/05 2 Analysis: Battle over gay law in Spain 1/05 3 Fighting for equality justice in Spain 2/05 4 Marginalised Muslims cause concern 3/05 5 Vatican condemns Spain gay bill 4/05 6 Spain paves way for gay marriage… Read more »

Gay Spain News & Reports 2000-04

1 Lieutenant Colonel says he is gay and demands respect for homosexuals 9/00 2 Gays persecuted by Franco lose criminal status at last 12/01 (Five stories about a gay Spanish priest who came out publicly):  -3 Gay Spanish Priest Stripped of Priesthood 2/02  -4 Spanish gays urged to leave the Church 2/02  -5 Gay Priest… Read more »