A city committed to diversity
For some time now, Barcelona has been a dream destination for LGBTI tourists from all over the world. The Catalan capital is an open, cosmopolitan city where gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and intersexed will find an atmosphere of freedom, tolerance and respect. The reason for that is, since the 1970s, there has been a good number of groups and associations that have shown concern and fought tirelessly for the rights of everyone, something they are still doing today. A good example of that is the Catalan Parliament's passing of the Anti-Homophobia Act, a pioneering piece of legislation in Spain promoted by a large number of associations.
You can see Barcelona's diversity for yourself inparts of the city such as Gaixample, an area of the Eixample where there are lots of bars, discos, clubs, restaurants, clothes shops, hairdressers, saunas and even hotels for homosexuals. But the best thing about Catalonia's capital is that gay life spreads right across the city, even to places such as the Raval, Poble-sec and Poblenou. There are lots of clubs too that normally attract a heterosexual public but occasionally offer entertainment for gays and lesbians which are a big hit with the locals.
Barcelona holds numerous events aimed at the LGBTI community, especially in the warmest months of the year. The gay summer kicks off around 28 June with the Pride celebrations, a week of events which ends with a big parade that fills Avinguda del Paral·lel with floats. The other big event of the season is the Circuit Festival, with lots of muscles, house music, swimming pools and the beach, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.
But it's not all partying and nightlife. The city also holds two gay and lesbian film festivals between the months of July and October, plus LGBTI sports tournaments, such as the Panteresports in September. With all that we mustn't forget the big association network formed by dozens of organisations involving lesbians, bears and transsexuals that organise events and activities throughout the year. All these ingredients make Barcelona the LGBI capital of the Mediterranean, a reference point for gays and lesbians all over the planet.
