Benidorm is the first municipality in the Valencian Community to obtain the new award as a LGTBIQ+phobia Free Space

Benidorm has today become the first municipality in the Valencian Community to receive the new award as an LGTBIQ+phobia Free Space, a distinction created by the Generalitat Valenciana to recognise institutions, entities and companies committed to guaranteeing a safe and discrimination-free environment for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The mayor of the city, Toni Pérez, has collected this distinction from the first vice-president of the Consell and regional minister for Social Services, Equality and Housing, Susana Camarero, who has highlighted that, on its own merits, “Benidorm, as a welcoming, free and avant-garde land, should be the first municipality in the Valencian Community to join this Protocol of LGTBIQ+phobia Free Spaces”.

The event, which took place in El Castell and coincided with the celebration tonight of the final of the fourth edition of the Benidorm Fest, has brought together numerous representatives of the Municipal Corporation, including the Councillor for Equality and Social Welfare, Ángela Zaragozí, as well as LGTBIQ+ entities and groups or those working in areas related to equality and diversity. Also present were the General Director of Diversity, Stephane Soriano; the General Director of Family, Childhood and Adolescence and Demographic Challenge, Angélica Such; as well as the regional secretary and the General Director of Tourism, José Manuel Camarero and Israel Martínez; Senator Agustín Almodóbar; and mayors and councillors from other municipalities in the province of Alicante. Mayor Toni Pérez has highlighted that it is “an honour” for Benidorm to receive this first distinction and has recalled that the city “as in many other areas, was also a pioneer in being a place for everyone, a city of respect, diversity, plurality, hospitality and an open city for all people without any distinction”. In this sense, the first mayor has gone back decades to state that “more than six decades ago, there were many people who already came to Benidorm because they knew that here they could live with total freedom and normality, when in many places in the world, unfortunately, this is still not the case” and has pointed out that “although in Benidorm, fortunately, we have never had to fight, LGTBIQ+phobia is still there and it is necessary to continue maintaining these protocols to promote actions, measures, training activities, awareness and attention to all people who may feel attacked by their orientation”.

The mayor also highlighted that “Benidorm Pride, for example, is a benchmark in Europe” and that in recent years “Benidorm Fest has also found that place” for the defence and promotion of diversity. Thus, he indicated that “in the last edition of Benidorm Fest, Benidorm was also the stage for presenting the brand ‘Orgull de Comunitat’ and today, once again, with that commitment to which we join, we are once again opening doors and giving opportunities for everyone to feel included in the city that we share, calling on citizens and our visitors to enjoy and live with respect, as has been done here in Benidorm for decades,” he added.

For her part, the First Vice President and Councillor for Social Services, Equality and Housing, has stated that “the Valencian Community is taking a step forward today in the construction of a freer and more respectful society for LGTBIQ+ people” and has congratulated Toni Pérez for the actions promoted by Benidorm to “promote this respect for diversity and freedom in all areas”, being the first municipality to join this protocol.

Susana Camarero has indicated that this Protocol is “a declaration of principles but also a roadmap to achieve a more equal and diverse society, which respects and celebrates diversity”. Likewise, she has shown herself “convinced that the protocol will position the Valencian Community as a benchmark for LGTBIQ+ tourism”, after which she has defended that it “could not be presented anywhere other than Benidorm, a destination of freedom, respect, support and avant-garde”, after which she has invited other municipalities and organisations to join it.

What is the LGTBIQ+phobia-Free Spaces Protocol?

The LGTBIQ+phobia-Free Spaces Protocol is a pioneering tool that allows us to identify, recognize and certify those spaces that guarantee a discrimination-free environment for LGTBIQ+ people. The Protocol allows companies, entities and institutions to be provided with an instrument that allows them to prevent and report situations that imply rejection, fear, contempt, repudiation, prejudice or discrimination for LGTBIQ+ people or their families and to carry out specific actions that promote the social inclusion of this group.

It also involves the creation of safe and accessible spaces, where all people can express themselves without fear of being judged or mistreated and where the dignity, equality, freedom, security and rights of all are respected, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. It also establishes mechanisms, measures, initiatives and procedures aimed at guaranteeing the rights of all LGTBIQ+ people who are in the territorial area of ​​the Valencian Community.

Companies, entities and associations that wish to adhere to the protocol must do so using a written document that values ​​the diversity of society in the Valencian Community and rejects all types of behaviour and conduct that constitute harassment due to sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, and can obtain all the information on this matter on the website of the Ministry.