At 7:00 p.m. it started this Saturday in Madrid the Pride 2023 demonstration, which was announced as the most politicized in history. It is celebrated this year after the growth of Vox in the regional and municipal elections of 28-M, on the eve of a general one and also marked by the previous messages from the main associations of the LGTBI collective and from the parties of the left encouraging them to convert the appointment on a platform to speak out against Vox y PP and mobilize the progressive vote ahead of the 23-J polls.
Thus the parties of the left have turned to pride and up to seven ministers will be present at the march: four from the PSOE, two from Podemos and Yolanda Díaz for Sumar.
The organizers of the demonstration, “in recognition of the coalition government that has approved the LGBTI+ Law government” have invited three members of the Government to the head banner: Irene Montero, Yolanda Diaz and Teresa Ribera.
By the PSOE in addition to the third vice president and minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, The Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, the Minister of Science, Diana Morant, and the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, are present.
“Today we are here to say that not one step back in the conquest of rights. That votes are not exchanged for rights, that shameful pacts are not admissible. That we want a free, open society in which everyone can want and express themselves as they want. That is the true freedom. The conquest of rights and that there is not a single step back in the conquest of rights for all”, assured the vice president, Teresa Riberaalso accompanied by the former minister, and candidate for mayor of Madrid in the last elections of 28-M, Reyes Maroto.
In addition, the vice president has taken advantage of her appearance before the media to throw a dart at Alberto Núñez Feijoo. “The Popular Party generates perplexity in Europa. Today begins the presidency of Spain in the European Union and the truth is that many countries view this step backwards in freedoms and rights with concern,” he said, referring to the investiture pacts signed between the popular y Vox for investiture agreements in different autonomous communities.
The second vice president, Minister of Labor and leader of Sumar, also attended the meeting, Yolanda Diazthe only candidate for the presidency of the Government walks the march.
On behalf of Podemos, the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, and the Social Rights and Agenda 2030, Ione Belarra. “Pride is the heart of our democracy. Today is a day in which we remember the most fundamental of all rights, the right to be who you are and not be discriminated against. Pride is the defeat of hate,” said the headline of Equality.
The PP, which has tried in recent days to distance itself from Vox’s discourse -which considers the LGTBI collective a lobby that does not need special protection-, attends the demonstration with a discreet representation headed by the Vice Secretary for Social Policy and Demographic Challenge, Carmen Funezand by the Secretary of Culture of the PP and senator, jamie de los santosvery active in the defense of LGTBI rights, who has attended all the pride demonstrations and is considered among the most influential gays.
Political news has influenced the call to the point of modifying its motto and the content of its demands in recent days. The entry of Vox into various regional Parliaments and many town halls, the controversy over the so-called “hate canvas” deployed and then withdrawn by Abascal’s party in the center of Madrid, and the absence of the rainbow flag in many of the institutions in which Vox has entered, has turned the appointment into a call to defeat the right on 23-J. “For our rights, for our lives and with pride” reads the banner that leads the demonstration in Madrid instead of the “Embracing family diversity: equal rights” initially planned.
From the LGTBI movement, the possibility that Vox could enter the national government after 23-J is seen as a threat to the rights won. It is estimated that around three million LGTBI people will have the right to vote this 23-J.
“Let’s go out to the streets to dye them with colors to show those who want to return to black and white that we are many more,” said the organizing entities, the LGTBI+ State Federation and COGAM, who preside Week Sangil y Ronnie de la Cruz respectively.