The organisers of a recent Solidarity Dinner hosted by a Barcelona-based sports nonprofit were thrilled to welcome stars like FIFA World Cup winner Joan Capdevila to their gala. However, a photo taken at the event has since ignited a wave of homophobic abuse, highlighting the persistent struggle with masculinity in men’s football.
Among the VIPs was Héctor Fort, the 18-year-old right-back for FC Barcelona, considered one of the club’s most promising talents. With only 20 appearances in La Liga so far and yet to debut for Spain’s senior team, Fort already boasts around 4 million followers across social media platforms.
Also in attendance was Brigitta Lamoure, a beloved drag queen and activist within Catalonia’s LGBTQ+ community. The two met at the Grand Hyatt dinner and posed for a playful photo, with Fort lifting Lamoure in his arms.
Lamoure shared the picture across Instagram and X during Easter, captioning it: “Resurrection Sunday!”
Homophobic Backlash Erupts Online
The image initially circulated within Lamoure’s queer following but soon spread into Fort’s fanbase and the wider football community, where the homophobic slurs began.
“Shortly after publishing the photo on all social networks, I saw that many young people, especially girls, were asking if he was gay and insulting him. I was blocking and deleting everything,” Lamoure told VilaWeb.
“I was surprised that many were young people, especially girls, very homophobic. My fight is for a free, diverse and inclusive society.”
While some of the vitriol came from teens, others within the football fanbase also joined in the abuse. The incident reflects a broader rise in hate crimes related to sexual orientation and gender identity in Spain, despite its reputation as an LGBTQ+-friendly country.
Silence from FC Barcelona
Although Lamoure has received numerous supportive messages this week, she expressed disappointment that neither Fort nor FC Barcelona have publicly addressed the situation.
“On June 28, International Pride Day, they will put flags all over the ground, but they will continue working with Qatar,” she said, criticising the club’s ties to sponsors from a country where LGBTQ+ relationships remain criminalised.
The media coverage around the photo and backlash has grown from Spanish outlets to international headlines. Whether Fort or the club will ultimately issue a response remains uncertain.
The Bigger Picture
While the incident between Fort and Lamoure may be unique — athletes rarely interact so publicly with drag performers — it exposes the deep-seated reluctance within men’s football to confront homophobia openly.
Some players, like former Spain international Borja Iglesias, have called out abuse, but such actions are rare. A few fans on X suggested solidarity moves such as more Barca players posing with Lamoure, or even naming her “godmother” of the team.
Lamoure responded in good humour, posting a video singing a line from the club’s anthem: “We have a name everyone knows… Barca, Barca, Baaarca!”
Still, given the tightly controlled lives of professional players, few expect a change anytime soon. For many gay or bisexual players, meaningful interactions with LGBTQ+ figures may only happen after they publicly come out — and often, even that is riddled with challenges.
There remains time for FC Barcelona and Fort to show support. But for now, Lamoure isn’t holding her breath — and nor are many observers.
