A pool party during Sitges Gay Pride | Photo: Jorge Pereira
Thirty minutes from Barcelona, Sitges is renowned for being one of the LGBTI favorite destinations.
The Saint Tropez of Spain will celebrate Sitges Gay Pride this weekend, prior to this September’s Sitges Bear Week.
This year’s theme #strongertogether is sending a message of inclusion enhanced by the collaboration with representatives from the whole LGBTI community.
Pretty in pink at Sitges Gay Pride | Photo: Jorge Pereira
Let’s fiesta in Sitges
Kicking off Thursday 14 June with the opening ceremony, Sitges Gay Pride will be ready to welcome 35,000 visitors.
The Gay Village will be the beating heart of celebrations hosting tribute nights to Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince.
The fiesta will revolve around two main areas: iconic clubs Organic and Bunker. In the former, Barcelona’s Matinee Group will take care of late night entertainment with several themed parties. The latter, the most famous cruising club in the city, will call for those on a mission with a series of events culminating in the Lights Out Closing Party on 19 June.
Other activities include drag performances, a boat party on 15 June and the Hola Beach Club party on 16 June.
The Sitges Gay Pride Parade on the Paseo
Promoted by the Association for Gay and Lesbian Sitges (AFGAL), the Parade will be on-route on 17 June. 2,000 participants and 20 floats are expected to march waving their flags. There will also be a dedicated kids zone with face painting, clowns and puppets.
At the end of the parade, a special Kisshaton will prompt marchers to share a picture while kissing a loved one, regardless of sexuality. Kissers can post their pictures on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #strongertogether.
A PrEP seminar
Informational seminars will be taking place throughout June, organized by the association Sitges Gay Link. The most relevant events during pride weekend are a march for LGBTI refugees and a PrEP workshop, aimed at informing on HIV prevention.
Moreover, a commemorative bracelet will go on sale in the gay village. Proceeds will go to Stop SIDA, the local group committed to spreading awareness on HIV and AIDS.
Why ‘gay’ Pride?
Gay Star News asked a representative of Sitges Gay Pride why they call it ‘gay’ and whether some could consider it not representative of the entire LGBTI community.
A spokesperson said: ‘Sitges has been open to gay visitors for many decades. It is home to the first ever gay bar in Spain, Comodin which still operates today…and we celebrate that fact with the Comodin Show opening the stage program every evening.
‘We don’t forget our past and we embrace the future. This year we have representatives from across all groups, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Intersex. Groups representing gays with families and Transsexual groups – all will have information stands in the gay village.
‘The event is known locally as Sitges Pride because it is an event the town feels proud of. It promotes the town’s inclusiveness and I think anyone of visits the event will know that it is much more than a title or a collection of titles.
‘We are always evaluating feedback from both the local gay community as well as our international visitors and that feedback has always been that everyone is welcome, no matter who you choose to love.’
