Spain

Spain's first marches for gay and lesbian rights took place shortly after the end of the Franco dictatorship. Barcelona came first, where police broke up a crowd of roughly 4,000 people. A year later about 7,000 marched in Madrid, called out by the Frente de Liberación Homosexual de Castilla.

Madrid Orgullo, known as MADO, is now the biggest Pride event in the country. The march is convened by the Madrid group COGAM and the national federation FELGTB. It starts at Glorieta de Atocha, follows the Paseo del Prado and the Paseo de Recoletos and finishes at Plaza de Colón. In the days before, the festival runs stages on Plaza de España, on Plaza de Pedro Zerolo in Chueca and on other squares. Mr. Gay Pride Spain is chosen on the Plaza de España stage, and the winner goes on to represent Spain at Mr. Gay World. There is also a high heel race on Calle de Pelayo. Madrid has hosted EuroPride and, a few years later, WorldPride.

Barcelona holds its own Pride in summer. On Gran Canaria, Maspalomas Pride takes place every May, and its parade through Playa del Inglés now draws well over 100,000 people. Resort towns such as Torremolinos and Sitges have their own Pride dates too.

Spain is one of the most open countries in Europe in legal terms. Same-sex couples have been able to marry and adopt jointly for more than twenty years; only two countries opened marriage before Spain did. A more recent law lets people change their legal gender by declaration at the civil registry.