For the first time, the Barcelona Pride parade marched through the city centre, moving from Plaça Universitat to the Arc de Triomf along Passeig de Sant Joan boulevard. The local police estimated an attendance of around 120,000 people, while organisers claimed over 200,000 participants filled the streets.
The parade featured 53 different carriages. This year’s theme was “Education in Sexual and Gender Diversity: A Pending Subject,” which focused on LGBTI+ education.
Some attendees highlighted the importance of Pride in “visualising” the LGBTI+ community, especially in response to the rise of far-right policies globally. Àlex and Sergi told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that the parade is “much more than a party” and emphasised the need for participation to prevent the regression of rights and freedoms. “Right-wing voters tend to shift to far-right policies,” Sergi noted, while Alex added, “We cannot relax.”
Elisa, from Castelldefels, south of Barcelona, expressed concern over the growing popularity of the far-right and the need to protect rights and create safe spaces for everyone, including those questioning their sexuality. “It is crazy that the far-right is becoming so popular,” she added.
Elisa, Àlex, and Sergi were among the 120,000 attendees who followed the new parade route through Gran Via Avenue. Previously, the parade took place along Paral·lel Avenue, ending at Plaça Espanya, but construction work necessitated the route change.
Pride promoters and activists advocate for a more inclusive school curriculum, teacher diversity training, and safer school environments. Their campaign also calls for training school staff, activating support protocols for LGBTQ+ aggression, and providing more educational materials on the subject.
