Catalonia marks International LGBT Pride Day amid warning of rise of far right

The Catalan government and Barcelona City Council marked International LGBT Pride Day on Friday, beginning with the hanging of flags from the balconies on their respective headquarters, which face each other on Plaça Sant Jaume.

Acting Catalan president Pere Aragonès issued a call for society to be "alert" amid the rise of "reactionary and extreme right-wing" positions, because "even those rights that we believe to be well-established could be challenged."

Speaking at the Palau de la Generalitat, Aragonès praised the work done by his government, thanked LGBT+ organizations and warned: "We cannot take any right for granted, rights must always be defended."

Catalonia's Minister for Equality and Feminism, Tània Verge, said the outgoing government had, "for the first time, put a feminist transformation as the axis of government action, with the mandate to work to guarantee everyone's human rights." LGBT+ policies are also feminist policies, she added.

Looking ahead to the next term, she warned that there are duties that need to be fulfilled, such as the approval of the trans law, which is ready to be sent to Parliament, and also the amendment of the law against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, to update it and make it "apt for the next decade."

The Observatory against Homophobia has received, up to June 28, 128 incidences of LGBT-phobia in Catalonia this year. The Barcelona region accounts for the most cases, a total of 95 (74.2%), with the majority in the city itself (72). 32% of cases registered occurred on the street. 
 

Barcelona mayor ​​Jaume Collboni announced that on July 1 a public consultation process will be opened to bring forward a council ordinance that regulates the battle for equality and non-discrimination.

Pride Barcelona

Barcelona's month-long Pride celebrations run from June 28 to July 21, with the biggest events taking place from July 17, including the city's Pride parade on Saturday, July 20.