We offer you a summary of some of the activities organised by the city's LGBTI associations.
The World Health Organisation decided to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses on 17 May 1990. This year’s International Day against LGBTI-phobia does not just coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of that important landmark. It is also happens to be a date smack in the middle of a social and health emergency brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak.
The traditional 17 May ceremonies in Barcelona, which had been planned to take place in the district of Eixample, have been changed under the recommendations issued by the health authorities. Under these risk-prevention and reduction measures, Rodrigo Araneda, the Social Deputy Chair of the LGBTI Municipal Council, accompanied by three representatives of associations in the city, has read out a brief communiqué at the Rambla de les Flors. Arranged by the Council’s “International LGBTI Days” work group, the initiative featured the basic principles set out in the “LGBTI proposals for vulnerable situations worsened by the Covid-19 crisis” work group.
The discourse maintained that the last few weeks have seen groups historically suffering discrimination, such as LGBTI people, facing extra risks in their daily lives. In addition, he insisted that inequalities should “be read from an intersectional basis”.
Speaking on behalf of the associations, Araneda called for active involvement from the authorities in the fight against LGBTI-phobia and the implementation of measures putting an end to the “numerous types of discrimination and violence” that LGBTI people suffer, mainly the most vulnerable sectors, such as women; migrants; trans people; children, young and teenagers; elder people and people living with HIV.
Associations’ activities
For some days now the city’s associations have been organising activities to mark the International Day against LGBTI-phobia. For example, on Saturday 16, several groups called for a cacerolazo on balconies. They were support, among other things, the FAGC and the Nou Barris LGTBI. That same day, the Grup de Joves del Casal Lambda and the Observatory against Homophobia (OCH) held an online discussion on the increased LGBTI-phobia.
The OCH invites you this 17 May to make yourself seen under the #PassejaLaBandera campaign. In addition, despite the pandemic situation, the 17 May awards ceremony has been kept on, and this year’s version can be followed from the ‘Plurals i singulars’ programme on Ràdio 4. You can read the OCH’s manifesto here.
On the other hand, numerous associations have uploaded videos on social networks to highlight their aims and lines of work and publish their recommendations. Such is the case with ACATHI, Gais Positius and Gaylespol, among other groups.
In addition, you will also be able to follow two chats today organised by Crida LGBTI. The first, at 12 noon, is a dialogue between Elena Longares (LesBiCat) and Sejo Carrascosa (Lumagorri ZHAT); the second, at 7 pm, a conversation on biomedicine and sexual and gender diversity which Cèsar D. Chaparro and Ángel Camacho will be taking part in.
To mark its first anniversary, Orgull Ràdio will be broadcasting a special programme. Highlights include the discussion which Elena Longares, Pol Galofre, Rubén Serrano and Personaje Personaje will be taking part in.
Finally, the Catalan LGTBI Associations Platform, a federation bringing together 14 associations from around the region, has launched a campaign entitled “17 May: 14 associations, 14 demands”. The aim behind this initiative is to spread the message of several organisations with a long history in the field of dealing with and fighting for recognition of LGBTI rights.