El Camino Torcido

During my trip to Spain I witnessed the Europride fest, a festival that celebrates the homosexual populace throughout Europe.

This colossal social gathering is held in various cities in Europe every year, so coincidently during my stay, it happened to be in Madrid. As I observed hundreds of people dancing behind floats in the street squeeze tightly together like a heard of wildebeest on the savannah, I found myself pondering, “It couldn’t always have been like this.”

The festival is an event displaying the pride in being homosexual. On Saturday, June 30, 2007, there was an estimated 2.5 million people celebrating in the streets of Madrid. It seemed as if straight natives were also embracing this galactic fiesta. Again, I found myself thinking this sight to be a little bizarre and doubted Spain’s openness toward homosexuals. As I stepped back into my hotel, I thought, “Isn’t this a Roman Catholic country?” Didn’t the dictator Francisco Franco once rule this land with an iron fist? How has Spain evolved so much to have more than 2 million homosexuals have an enormous street party in its capital of Madrid?

Even though strong Catholics and other critics shared Francisco Franco’s sentiments against homosexuality, the community despised him. Franco had always been an enforcer, and when it came to homosexuality, it was no different. Fascist Franco loathed gays and lesbians. He was a bold follower of the Catholic Church, and he fused the Church’s beliefs with his rule over Spain. Franco scolded same sex couples by constructing laws that would prosecute them in the courts. Some homosexuals were deemed a danger to society and sentenced to prison or mental wards.

It’s parallel to the movie “V for Vendetta” the way homosexual Spaniards were dealt with because in the film homosexuals were stripped from their home, and imprisoned, so they can be used as experiments for medication. It was said that homosexuals were ill, so doctors tried to cure them with electric shock treatments. According to CNN.com, crueler doctors would prescribe gay people medication that was not yet proven. Francisco Franco didn’t hold back. He went as far as profiling homosexuals. If the police ran records, they would know who was homosexual and be able to treat them as they saw fit.

For homosexuals in Spain, it’s been a bumpy road. Franco died in 1975, and the road has become smoother in the past few years. In late 2001, the Spanish government vowed to eradicate criminal records that were still on file of homosexuals convicted by Franco’s regime. The government even looked for ways to reimbursed homosexuals for the discrimination. 2004 brought up the controversial marriage of homosexual couples to Spain’s parliament. Like everywhere else worldwide, this concern was disputed and watched like a hawk. After being opposed by judges, government officials and church representatives, homosexuals were granted their wish to be married on July 3, 2005. To my surprise, 60 percent of the Spanish populace supported these laws. King Juan Carlos even gave his support. Homosexuals would not stop just yet. Subsequent to gay marriage was homosexual adoption. Gay couples may now adopt children without any trouble or concern.

Homosexuals have had to deal with a lot in Spain. From oppressive dictators to living secretly in society, it must have been tremendously complicated at times to be a homosexual and live in Spain. The positive spin is that they endured the trials. They were able to stand up at Europride and shout “We’re Proud!” If homosexuals are going to have an outrageously enjoyable time in the city streets of Madrid then you can count me in. The experience of seeing that many people, regardless of their sexual orientation having a blast with no racism or homophobia was moving. In the end, homosexuals served their time of bitterness and now they can stand up and yell VICTORY!