Madrid against hate and discrimination, this is how the pride march took place

First modification: 07/10/2022 – 03:42

Waving rainbow flags, dancing to different styles of music and chanting slogans such as “Not one step back”, “Pride without prejudice” or “Machismo also kills gays”, thousands mobilized through the center of Madrid, in what is known as the Europe’s biggest Pride event.

“After two years, I think people needed to feel free again, go out on the street, be able to enjoy themselves. And in the end, it’s not just the party, it’s that people need to be recognized, valued, not because of their sexuality, because they don’t It’s about that, but that we are people and we need the same rights that they have for being men, women, fat or skinny, black or whoever, we are all the same. And love is love, that’s what matters “declared one of the protesters.

As is customary, many of them decided to wear flashy costumes, while others wore their torsos or bare bodies with body makeup. “The best thing about this day is that you can feel free. On a normal day, if we go down the street, they stare at us just because we have short hair,” said Alzira Valero.

The claims

One of the most important moments of the event was the reading of the manifesto, in which this year they called on the Government and institutions to promote equality and stop hatred against vulnerable groups.

“They are already shouting terrible hate speech from the institutions: they stigmatize us, they point fingers, they blame us for real and invented problems, they present us as people with privileges or worse, as threats to minors, or to women. They want us singled out, guilty, angry , with fear and with hatred”, the text reads.

The document also vindicates the work that the group has been doing in the last 30 years, conquering rights such as equal marriage, LGBTIQ+ regional laws or the definitive approval of the future Trans and LGBTIQ+ Law.

“This year we continue to demand a Trans and LGBTIQ+ Law, to defend the legislation and the rights of all LGBTIQ+ people, we also ask for a social and State pact against the hate speech that is taking place in institutions,” declared Uge Sangil , president of the National Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals.

They also assured that they will not be satisfied with gestures, words, or promises, that they prefer actions and that the promulgation of laws in favor of the group that are not applied by the judges does not help them either, and that they will continue fighting until they achieve equality and freedom for the entire population. sexual, gender and family diversity.

“We come to claim our rights. We had a great time but we are also here to fight. Let us not forget that this is the real reason why we are here. It is not a party, it is to claim the rights that we have not had for so many years , and we are going to have a great time for everyone who is no longer here.”

The Executive of Spain agreed in June a new draft of a bill of rights and if the Parliament supports it, people of 16 years will be able to change their sex freely and those of 12 years will be able to access the benefit with the authorization of a judge.

“What we are claiming within the trans issue are non-binary realities, because they exist and have to be within the articulated expansion for trans minors. And that trans minors also have the right to free gender self-determination, based on the sentence of the Constitutional Court of 2019 “said Mane Fernández, vice president of the National Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals.

Some cabinet ministers also participated in the mobilization and before the event began, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his support through his Twitter account.

With information from Reuters, EFE and AP.