History

During the 80’s, the LGBT community settled down in the Chueca neighborhood, situated in the heart of the city. Over the years, Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders made of this neighborhood (one of the most depressed areas of the city), not only their place for leisure and work, but also their home, in full coexistence with other neighbors and visitors. Together they transformed Chueca into one of the areas with greatest freedom, tolerance and diversity in Madrid, setting standards for many other cities in the world.

In the Chueca neighborhood and parallel to the first gay rights demonstrations for the LGBT rights, the Pride celebrations in Madrid are born in the mid 80’s. Pelayo Street, the opening speech in the Chueca neighborhood and the first stages are being established and becoming increasingly important. Nowadays they are part of the most emblematic events of the capital.

In 1997 a few floats participated for the first time in the parade. This is a very important milestone. It is a political and demanding demonstration with recreational, social and festive character thanks to the participation of many individuals, groups, associations and entrepreneurs. This demanding and recreational nature is the key hallmark of the LGBT demonstration in Madrid.

Since then, the Madrid Pride, understood both as demonstration and celebration in the Chueca neighborhood, has not stopped growing and is an essential element for the transformation of the Spanish reality, moving from conservative and discriminating to profoundly diverse and tolerant.

2005 was the year of equality for gays and lesbians. Spain was the third country in the world to recognize the right of homosexual partners to marry and the first to put marria- ge rights for people of the same gender on the same footing as those of different gender.

In 2007 the Europride celebration was another highlight in our history, consolidating the Madrid Pride internationally as “best gay event in the world” (Tripout Gay Travel Awards) in 2009 and 2010.