No. 27 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

26
GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA EDICIÓN 27
Maspalomas Pride in defence of diversity
Maspalomas Pride is one of the events with the
greatest international impact on the island. It is
also, without doubt, one of the events that places
Gran Canaria among the top LGTBI destinations in
the world, thanks to the hospitality and sense of
tolerance among the island's population.
This reality has been consolidating over the years,
following in the footsteps of the tourist destination
Maspalomas Costa Canaria, virtually since its
beginnings back in the 1960s. The process has not
been exempt from struggles and difficult situations
such as the regrettable passage through this
municipality of a commissioner who used humiliating
practices and torture against LGTBI people.
It was the legacy of the dictatorship, of a culture
of intolerance and sexual repression in all areas
of society, against which modernity and openness
towards a wider and unprejudiced vision of
diversity and freedom prevailed, which is one of
the hallmarks of this Pride event as a massive and
rights-claiming occasion.
Despite those episodes of intolerance and repression,
freedom managed to pull through and
within a few years Maspalomas began to become
internationally popular as a tolerant destination.
The long days in the sun, between the beach and
the dunes, together with the lively nightlife of the
tourist area, attracted more and more people, not
only the elderly who were recovering from health
issues, but also the LGTBI community, who found
on the island a place where everyone could feel
free..
This offer was complemented by the first drag
shows in Europe, with the Miss Traveskarnatival
Gala, which began in Maspalomas 37 years ago
and which today is celebrated as a Drag Gala in
several municipalities around Gran Canaria, mainly
in the capital which has become a show of enormous
worldwide repercussion. Also included in
the LGTBI agenda are the International Carnival of
Maspalomas and the winter pride or the German
carnival, meaning that Maspalomas boasts an
events calendar that caters for the LGTBI public
all year round.
Maspalomas Pride is the collective achievement
of a community, but also of the personal efforts
made of some of its promoters, as is the case of
Darío Jaén, to whom the central square of the
Yumbo shopping centre is dedicated, a space that
was designed as a shopping centre and which fell
into disrepair for years before reinventing itself
as a centre in which the majority of its establishments
are dedicated to the LGTBI public.
The international Maspalomas Pride event takes
place during the first fortnight of May. It contains
a programme that includes more than 40 performances,
galas, a beach party, parades and cultural
events, as well as performances by renowned
singers, concerts with the best DJs and international
drag performers that guarantee fun for
everyone who attends the event. It also features
the Fashion Gala, the Drag Race Gala, the Float
Parade with 33 vehicles, the largest number in the
history of Pride Maspalomas, and the Closing Gala.
These public events coincide with an extensive
programme of activities organised by the private
tourist establishments, which are already sold out,
demonstrating the great capacity of Maspalomas
Pride to draw in the crowds.
In addition to all this, Pride has the support of various
institutions and numerous companies and
groups. This year, the Chrysallis Canarias association
is of particular relevance, as this year's theme
is 'For the rights of children and trans youth, our
future'.
This is a massive event, with more than 200,000
participants, most of them coming from several
continents.
It might be suggested whether this event could
ever disappear, but Pride is a thermometer that
reflects the variations and risks that threaten freedom
in many places around the world. In the face
of these uncertainties and limitations that occur
in many countries, Maspalomas brings colour and
hope to the LGTBI collectives, with a Pride event
that will continue to be faithful to its revindicating
aspect and defence of civil rights.