Francisco Martín Terriza once again acted as spokesperson for the group at the event and began by thanking the generations who “before us” paved the way that today allows us to “live with more freedom”, and who did so, he added, at a “time when they were persecuted and treated like sick people for loving those they wanted”.
After this recognition, Martín Terriza has pointed out that even now LGTBI people continue to be singled out and suffer physical attacks only because of their sexual orientation. “There is so much way to go” that almost 9% of the people in the group have suffered these homophobic attacks in 2023, according to a 40DB survey for the LGTBI State Federation, or only “in Catalonia, Asturias or in Madrid these attacks have increased 27%.” Complaints that, according to these same studies, are concentrated in large cities.
She therefore wondered out loud “what will continue to happen in rural areas, in small towns” where the stigma is still more latent, and physical harassment is often preceded by “other psychological aggressions”.
He recalled that he was born in 1976 and at that time “being gay made you the outcast of the town, someone that everyone was going to laugh at,” and sooner or later you had to “go somewhere else to seek freedom,” as, he recalled, happened to several friends of his age.
At this point, Martín Terriza said that he always refused to leave his town because he wanted that freedom here. For all this, he encouraged people to defend and enjoy that tolerance in Daimiel, and to celebrate Pride in our municipality.
The Councilor for Equality, Alicia Loro, also participated in the event. In her speech, Loro recalled Denis González, European Artistic Swimming champion, who after that victory suffered homophobic comments on his social networks. The councilor applauded the courage and courage that she demonstrated in denouncing these attacks and the barriers that he has broken in the world of sports with his authenticity.
The event was attended by a large municipal representation, including the mayor, Leopoldo Sierra, the spokesperson for the Municipal Socialist Group, Teresa Ortega, and several councillors from the PP and the PSOE. All of them and the professionals from the Women’s Centre had their photograph taken with the rainbow flag in the centre of the square.
