You will find Pride events around the city from June 19th to 30th with the festivities kicking off with cultural activities. Since its 2009 inception, Pride BCN has gotten bigger and better every year and, despite these troubled times, this year is sure to be no exception. Starting in Madrid in 1979, there have been yearly Pride events held in Spain, and our Mediterranean extravaganza is simply one of the best. And the persecution and lack of rights continue to this day, explaining why Gay Pride celebrations are so important and necessary the world over. The past is rife with historical references to gay persecution and an unfortunate lack of gay rights.
Inherently, everyone has the same desire: to feel and be connected to others, to love and be loved, and be allowed the freedom to express that love and who we are without fear of ridicule, insult or abuse. One of the main things the gay community desires is connection and acknowledgement from society. When I look at the hoops my fellow countrymen in the US have jumped through to gain a mere foothold in the government-and still only 10 states recognise the legality of gay marriage-I find that the word ‘Pride’ becomes ever more meaningful.
As a historian and a member of the community, I can’t ignore the fact that Spain has been one of the most open countries in granting complete and utter equality to gay men and women, an equality that now includes adoption. One can trace the progress of where we’ve come since the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village in 1969, while the demise of Franco gave rise to the ‘Movida’ movement and gay rights here in Spain. There is no way to disconnect Pride from the history of civil rights. While on the one hand, the sight of the hedonism that danced about me both enticed and perturbed the libidinous younger me, the empathetic, sociologist side of me was mesmerised by the way so many LGBTQI people had congregated together in celebration of something universal: civil liberties. What surprised me most was the open display of unabashed freedom. Being from a devout Judeo-Christian, Mexican-American family, all I could do was stare at the spectacle, somewhat dumbfounded. It was the Nineties and I was a mere lad of 19, interning in San Francisco. Barring a reversal from SF Pride, SFFD will not be marching in the San Francisco Pride Parade,” the statement read.The memory of the first Pride festival I ever attended contains flashes of chains and black leather, and an image of diva Martha Wash joined by a writhing legion of go-go dancers. In solidarity with their fellow first responders, the San Francisco Fire Department is standing with our law enforcement partners. We, the LGBTQ+ deputies of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, will not hide from anyone who we are. “We, the police officers of the San Francisco Police Officers Pride Alliance, stand firm in our decision that we will not be pushed back into the closet. Members of the police department’s various gay groups also announced boycotts of the parade. “I’ve made this very hard decision in order to support those members of the LGBTQ community who serve in uniform, in our Police Department and Sheriff’s Department, who have been told they cannot march in uniform and in support of the members of the Fire Department who are refusing to march out of solidarity with their public safety partners,” Breed said in a statement, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.