‘Barbie Girl’ artists and 2022 Romania’s Eurovision singer in Pride BCN

Pride! Barcelona, one of the biggest Mediterranean LGBTQI+ pride events, will welcome ‘Barbie Girl’ artists and 2022 Romania’s Eurovision singer. The celebration will focus on the lesbian collective as organizers have announced the new social campaign on Wednesday to increase visibility for lesbian women. 

The campaign, under the name #Bollomami, "wants to bring to light the different realities and identities in the lesbian community, as well as the inequality and invisibility lesbian women suffer," as the press release reads. 

From June 13 to June 26, Pride! Barcelona will return to its usual site, on Avinguda Maria Cristina, next to the Montjuïc fountains. Organizers expect to recover 2019 attendees figures when over 400,000 people took part in the event. That year, there were around 100 activities scheduled with an economic impact of around €70 million.

Dozens of activities planned

The Pride! Barcelona organizers have planned dozens of different activities between June 13 and June 26. One of the most awaited moments will be AQUA music group’s performance, the artists from the 90’s pop-hit ‘Barbie Girl. The show will be either on June 24 or 25, as organizers have not announced the final date. 

Other confirmed artists are Romania’s 2022 Eurovision singer, WRS, with his ‘Llámame’ viral hit. Javiera Mena is also part of the lineup that includes La Zowi, Ginebras, Luna Ki, Rocío Saiz, and La Furia. However, the Pride! Barcelona team is expected to reveal more artists in the upcoming days. 

The event is not only focused on music and celebration, but also on raising awareness of the collective. On Saturday, June 25, a march will start at 6 pm in the Tres Xemeneies park and will finish on Avinguda Maria Cristina at 8 pm, where they will read a manifesto. 

On Avinguda Maria Cristina, organizers will erect a village with several LGBTQI+ associations from Barcelona, a commercial area, a bar, and the main stage. 

"We are the biggest diversity and human rights’ ‘festa major’ (local festivity) in Barcelona," Ferran Poca, director of the organization committee, said during a press conference.

The 2022 pride celebration will officially start on June 22, with a proclamation read by Aida Domenech, commonly known as Dulceida, a lesbian vlogger and content creator.

One of the biggest events this year, which is completely new, is the LGBTQI+ Sant Joan eve in the Gaixample on June 23 evening. The Gaixample is the gay area in the Catalan capital. It will be on June 26, when attendees will get to enjoy a special fun day in Barcelona’s Tibidabo amusement park.

Between June 27 and June 30, organizers have scheduled several LGBTQI+ rights conferences in the Casa Seat establishment, on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia boulevard and Diagonal avenue. 

#Bollomami

The campaign selected in 2022 focuses on the lesbian community. Bollomami is a combination of the Spanish words ‘bollera’, and ‘mami’. ‘Bollera’ is a derogatory term for a lesbian. The ‘mami’ part, which means mum, is inspired by Rosalia’s latest album ‘Motomami’, talking about empowered women. 

"The lesbian community, despite being the first letter of the LGBTQI+ abbreviation, have historically suffered invisibility and a double violence from the patriarchal system, as they were excluded as women and placed in a second term because of their sexual affection," the press release explains. 

The #Bollomami campaign features 19 lesbian women from Barcelona. There are 10 posters and other audiovisual material that will be shared online soon, organizers confirmed.