This Thursday, Gandia's Plaça Major hosted the institutional event for Lesbian Visibility Day, which is commemorated on April 26. The establishment of this day in Spain was promoted by the collective itself at a FELGTB Federal Council in 2008.
The day aims to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of lesbian women, who still face discrimination due to their gender and sexual orientation. In medium-sized cities like Gandia, it is still difficult for many women to come out, especially for generations over 30 or 40, who often conceal their orientation in various aspects of city life.
“"In this city, it is still hard to come out if you are a woman. There are no public spaces here to connect with other lesbians; even entertainment venues had to close because people preferred to go out in Valencia."
Local activists point out that, despite feeling integrated into LGTBI collectives, the presence of women remains a pending issue. They acknowledge that in their respective local groups, although they feel integrated, the presence of women is a pending issue. In the case of one collective with over 20 years of history, there were girls from the beginning, and it even had a coordinator, but currently, there is still a lack of female members and volunteers, as men constitute the majority.
Furthermore, they note that prejudices still exist in Gandia, leading many to seek more freedom in the capital, Valencia. Despite these difficulties, activists continue to work from the city to promote education and activism, raising the lesbian flag, integrated under the rainbow symbol.
