Rainbow climbing high on the Costa del Sol

TUESDAY, June 28 marked the international day for LGBT rights, and a number of Malaga’s municipalities raised the rainbow flag for the first time in their history, as local councils displayed their solidarity with the local LGBT community and social discrimination in general.

Ronda, Alhaurin de la Torre, Fuengirola, Mijas, Torrox, and Mijas all offered their support, in addition to LGBT stalwarts Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Marbella and Malaga City, as the Costa commemorated the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community which occurred in the early hours of June 28, 1969, in Greenwich Village, New York.

The riots are widely considered to represent the origin of the modern LGBT movement, and there was a (peaceful) march at 8pm under the slogan ‘Pride is to be feminist or not to be.’

In Mijas, Costa del Sol Rainbow Association President Sandra Guijas read a manifesto to the amassed throng after the flag had been hoisted, while a photographic exhibition entitled ‘Diversity and equality is called transsexualism’ will also be open until July 8.

Guijas said: “Love for diversity and equality is starting to become natural, thanks to the dedication, work and effort of all the associations of this collective that defend human rights.”