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Madrid awash with rainbow flags for gay pride parade

A minor protest from the far-right Vox party did little to deter the 400,000 visitors to Madrid's annual gay pride event. Although Spain is one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries, conservative opposition persists.

  • Protesters hold up a rainbow flag (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    Madrid brimming with LGBT colors

    Huge gay pride events in London and Cologne dominated the headlines this weekend, but Madrid's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights celebration also saw a huge turnout. The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" recognizing a decadeslong fight against homophobia and equality. Spain only decriminalized homosexuality in 1978.

  • Bare-chested men at Madrid Pride (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    Old prejudices still haunt

    Saturday's very public gay party contrasted with the era of Francisco Franco, Spain's 20th-century dictator, when the LGBT community was forced to meet in secret. Echoes of that period resurfaced when the right-wing Vox party, which made gains in Spain's general election in April, called for Madrid Pride to move from the capital to a more hidden place.

  • Stonewall anniversary sign in Madrid (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    Progressive Spain leads the way

    Since its return to democracy in 1975, Spain has developed into one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world. In 2005, it became only the third nation to legalize same-sex marriage. But while the idea was supported by the majority of Spanish people, some conservative groups in the Catholic country continue to see gay rights as a threat to family values.

  • Anti-gay conversion therapy protester holds up a sign (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    If it ain't broke...

    Some gay pride activists protested against the use of gay conversion therapy, which often includes hormonal treatments and aversive techniques designed to change sexual orientation. Such practices have been rejected by mainstream medical and mental health professionals, but continue to be offered. One Madrid Pride protester held a sign that read: "No cure necessary for love, only for hatred."

  • A member of the LGBT community bearing a message reading on his chest There used to be boobs here (Getty Images/O. del Pozo)

    Gender dysphoria label 'stigmatizing'

    One activist created a very personalized body banner to promote transgender rights. Spain introduced the right to change one's gender in 2007, which over the subsequent decade prompted 2,225 Spaniards to change their sex. But some LGBT rights groups say the law is still too restrictive, and that requiring a mandatory diagnosis of gender dysphoria before proceeding is superfluous.

  • A participant runs during a high-heel race as part of Gay Pride month in the neighbourhood of Chueca in Madrid (Getty Images/AFP/G. Bouys)

    High-heel race defies gravity

    As if the LGBT community hasn't suffered enough, dozens of men and a few women raced through the Chueca gay neighborhood in heels at least 10 centimeters (4 inches) high. In return for several minutes of agony, the winner received €350 ($390). Thursday's high-heel race was one of the most eagerly awaited parts of Madrid's annual LGBT festival.


  • Protesters hold up a rainbow flag (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    Madrid brimming with LGBT colors

    Huge gay pride events in London and Cologne dominated the headlines this weekend, but Madrid's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights celebration also saw a huge turnout. The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" recognizing a decadeslong fight against homophobia and equality. Spain only decriminalized homosexuality in 1978.

  • Bare-chested men at Madrid Pride (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    Old prejudices still haunt

    Saturday's very public gay party contrasted with the era of Francisco Franco, Spain's 20th-century dictator, when the LGBT community was forced to meet in secret. Echoes of that period resurfaced when the right-wing Vox party, which made gains in Spain's general election in April, called for Madrid Pride to move from the capital to a more hidden place.

  • Stonewall anniversary sign in Madrid (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    Progressive Spain leads the way

    Since its return to democracy in 1975, Spain has developed into one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world. In 2005, it became only the third nation to legalize same-sex marriage. But while the idea was supported by the majority of Spanish people, some conservative groups in the Catholic country continue to see gay rights as a threat to family values.

  • Anti-gay conversion therapy protester holds up a sign (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Lizana)

    If it ain't broke...

    Some gay pride activists protested against the use of gay conversion therapy, which often includes hormonal treatments and aversive techniques designed to change sexual orientation. Such practices have been rejected by mainstream medical and mental health professionals, but continue to be offered. One Madrid Pride protester held a sign that read: "No cure necessary for love, only for hatred."

  • A member of the LGBT community bearing a message reading on his chest There used to be boobs here (Getty Images/O. del Pozo)

    Gender dysphoria label 'stigmatizing'

    One activist created a very personalized body banner to promote transgender rights. Spain introduced the right to change one's gender in 2007, which over the subsequent decade prompted 2,225 Spaniards to change their sex. But some LGBT rights groups say the law is still too restrictive, and that requiring a mandatory diagnosis of gender dysphoria before proceeding is superfluous.

  • A participant runs during a high-heel race as part of Gay Pride month in the neighbourhood of Chueca in Madrid (Getty Images/AFP/G. Bouys)

    High-heel race defies gravity

    As if the LGBT community hasn't suffered enough, dozens of men and a few women raced through the Chueca gay neighborhood in heels at least 10 centimeters (4 inches) high. In return for several minutes of agony, the winner received €350 ($390). Thursday's high-heel race was one of the most eagerly awaited parts of Madrid's annual LGBT festival.


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