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Toledo’s Pride Week, also known as “Toledo Entiende” or “Toledo Understands,” celebrated annually since 2008 in this historic city of Spain, is “a week devoted to the celebration of different events aimed at making the reality of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual) population visible.” The week occurs annually around the time of most international pride parades in the month of June to celebrate and commemorate the Stonewall Riots of New York City of 1969, a landmark event for the LGBT community worldwide.

Toledo’s event primarily consists of three fundamental elements-- culture, festivities or celebration, and justice or social action. Moreover, the event is in no way exclusive to only those of the LGBT community, but rather all members of the Toledo community. Historically, this event has mainly been supported by the LGBT organization of Castilla-La Mancha, Bolo-Bolo, although many other organizations and people have contributed support throughout the years for this event.

History

2008

2008 was the first official year for the Pride Week in Toledo, founded by The Bolo-Bolo Foundation, the Triangle Foundation, and the State Foundation of Lesbians, Gays, Transexuals, and Bisexuals (FELGTB). However, many of the head organizers of the event made it very clear that the founding of the Pride Week in Toledo was a collective idea of the entire city.

The inauguration of this event began on Tuesday, the 24th, in the Assembly Hall (Salón de Actos) of Castilla-La Mancha. Throughout the week, the events focused on works of art or conferences dedicated to portraying and discussing the lives and struggles of the LGBT community both in Toledo and throughout the world. The works of art consisted of:

• A Love to Hide (French Title: Un amour à taire), a full-length film by director Christian Faure about the persecution of homosexuals during the Nazi reign in Germany.
• “To Be or to not Be Visible” (Spanish Title: "Ser o no ser visible"), a play by Cristina Castilla on lesbian women and their conflicts within their families and the personal and social contradictions that their lives consist of.
• The Many Colored Love (Spanish Title: El amor de todos los colores) and I Come (Spanish Title: Vengo), two children’s books on LGBT topics such as having two parents of the same gender.
• ''The New World'' (Spanish Title: El nuevo mundo), a French movie.
• “Antonio y Elisa,” a short film.
• An unnamed animated film for children.

The week ended with the hanging of the rainbow flag historically associated with the LGBT community, a manifesto written and recited by the founders of the event declaring their intentions, and the presentation of prizes in the name of Javier Fernández to honor those who had contributed greatly to the LGBT community in Toledo within the recent years.

However, as expected, the founding of this event was frequently met with controversy within the community of Toledo (See Controversy below).

2009

2009 marked the second year of the Pride Week in Toledo, and along with this year, came the first published manifesto of the event. The manifesto declared 2009 as a year dedicated to education as “a year of affective and sexual diversity in education” with a slogan of “Schools without closets!” signifying education without discrimination against LGBT students. The manifesto then proceeded to span LGBT themes from history (Shakespeare, Lorca, The Spanish Inquisition, Franco and the persecution of gays and lesbians), to visibility outside of just nightclubs, social and cultural equality to match legal equality, respect for LGBT families and teachers, and the fight against the stigma against HIV/AIDS.

This year also marked another year with an emphasis on art as a means to express the struggles and lives of the LGBT community as portrayed through these works:

• “Coffee with milk” (Spanish title: “Café con leche”), a short gay film by Daniel Ribeiro.
• Were the World Mine (Spanish title: Si el mundo fuera mío), a full-length film with LGBT themes by Tom Gustafson.
• Presentation of a book by Beatriz Gimeno.
• “The Elevator” (Spanish title: “El ascensor”), a short-film by Ben Hakim with transexual themes.
• Vivere, a full-length film by Angelina Maccarone.
• Concert by singer-songwriter Andrés Lewin.

The week then ended with a march throughout the city consisting of social justice groups, unions, political party representatives, and representatives from the local government of Castilla-La Mancha and Toledo, and a performance of “La Exaltación del Amor.”

2010

In 2010, based on the manifesto written by the organizers of the Pride Week, the central theme for the week was equality for citizens who identify as transexual or transgender. This equality consisted of access to public health care services such as the legal approval of sex reassignment surgeries, the removal of transexuality from the list of mental illnesses or disorders, a dramatic transformation of the stereotype of a transexual person, and the prevention and condemnation of discrimination of transexuality. This focus was placed on the transexual community of Spain as the LGBT community as a whole had seen the dual discrimination facing transexual community members for being both transexual and women. The manifesto also condemned discrimination by the Vatican for not condemning the death penalty for LGBT citizens internationally and the by the United Nations for not censuring the United States for its own national discrimination against the LGBT community.

This year, as the ones before it, also included a wide array of works of art and panel discussions:

• “Diary of a Heart” (Spanish Title: “Diaria de un corazón”), a short-film with transexual themes.
• Drool, a full-length film with lesbian themes directed by Nancy Kissam.
• A panel discussion on transexuality in the work force with members from Spain’s largest trade union, The Workers’ Commission (CCOO), and the General Union of Workers (UGT).
• “The Elevator” (Spanish Title: “El ascensor”), a short-film by Ben Hakim also shown in 2009 with transexual themes.
• Clandestinos, a 2007 Spanish film by director Antonio Hens with gay themes.
• Paco, a short-film with gay themes.

Pride Week in 2010 then concluded with concert with the transexual singer, Erica Magdaleno, and the diversity prizes once again in honor of Javier Fernández.

2011

The motto of Pride Week of Toledo in 2011 was “Matrimonio = Matrimonio” or “Marriage = Marriage,” the continuing fight for the social and political equality of same-sex marriages despite the legalization of same-sex marriages in Spain.

The manifesto of 2011, read in the Plaza of Zocodover, consisted of the primary theme of preserving and continuing to fight for the rights of the sons and daughters of this generation so that they to will have the ability to have an equal marriage regardless of gender. Moreover, although 20,000 same-sex couples had already gotten married since Spain passed its law allowing same-sex marriages nationally in 2005, the Popular Party of Spain, or El Partido Popular, still was trying to pass a law to declare all same-sex marriages once again unconstitutional. The fight then persisted to maintain the legality of these marriages. Furthermore, the manifesto focused on demanding recognition and help for those citizens who are HIV-positive. During the reading of the manifesto, many leaders declared that it was necessary to remember that, despite the setbacks that the Popular Party is trying to create for their community, “seventy percent of the population, according to the most recent studies, is in favor of [the LGBT community] having a full life [including marriage].”

The list of works of art and panels held were also extensive in 2011:

• A conference on transexuality.
• A conference on bisexuality.
• A conference on same-sex or same-gender marriage.
• “Adiós, hombre, adiós”, a short-film with transexual themes.
• “Homo baby boom”, a documentary on same-sex parents and their families.
• Sortir Du Nkuta, a full-length film with LGBT themes.
• The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, a television biographical drama movie with lesbian themes.
• I Shot My Love, a full-length film with gay themes.

In 2011, the prize in honor of Javier Fernández was given to doña Carmen Jiménez, councilwoman of Youth and Festivities of the City Council of Toledo from 2008-2011.

2012

Similar to 2011, the focus of Pride Week in Toledo in 2012 was marriage equality, based on the slogan of “the conservation of equal marriage.”

The week consisted of conferences and screenings of films such as:

• A conference on marriage equality or equal marriage.
• A conference on bisexuality and educating the youth on LGBT topics led by don Miguel Ángel García Bravo, a member of FAEST, or the Federation of Student Associations.
• Another conference on education diversity within sexualities, led by Antonio Ortega, the Secretary General of Bolo-Bolo.
• A conference on transexuality led by doña Carla Antonelli, deputy of the Socialist Parliamentary Group of the Community of Madrid.
• “Right 2 Love”, a documentary on the rights and daily lives of families with same-sex or same-gender parents.
• A documentary about LGBT youth living in rural areas.

The Javier Fernández prize for diversity was given to the entire Women’s Council of Toledo for their contributions to LGBT events and issues in Toledo.

2013

In 2013, the organizers of Toledo’s Pride Week returned to their 2009 theme of “Jóvenes sin armarios” or “Youth without Closets,” a theme centering on the protection of LGBT youth, and always the week ended with the presentation of the prize in honor of Javier Fernández.

Throughout the week, the conferences, panel discussions, and screenings consisted of:

• Round table discussion about LGBT youth including Santi Rivero, the Area Coordinator for Youth from FELGTB, Alejandro Ballesteros, professor of El Greco from IES (Secondary Education Institution of La Flota) and volunteer in the non-profit Doctors of the World (Médecins du Monde) in Castilla-La Mancha.
• “Shark Bait”, a short-film.
• Conference on the visibility of LGBT families. Maribel Blanco, Area Coordinator for Families from Bolo-Bolo and of the platform, “Hij@s de hecho, hij@s con Derechos” or “Sons/daughters unmarried, sons/daughters with rights,” presented on lesbian maternity. Antonio Vila-Coro, President of the platform “Son nuestros hijos” or “They are our children” presented on surrogacy pregnancy.
• “Sticks and Stones”, a short-film on lesbian youth.
• Open debate on homosexuality and people with disabilities. Cristina Gómez, a psychologist, told real testimonies with the support of APANAS (Provincial Association for Families of People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities) and ASDOWNTO, an organization that aids members of the community with Down’s Syndrome and their families in Toledo.
• “Mobile”, a short-film.
• Open debate about feminism and “new” masculinities lead by the Association of Men for Gender Equality (AHIGE) of Castilla-La Mancha.
• “Lucas to Lucas”, a short-film.

2014

Although the homepage of “Toledo Entiende” no longer posted information on Pride Week after 2013, the annual events of Pride Week continued occurring. In 2014, there were multiple slogans used throughout the week to express the community’s focus in their celebratory as well as educational and demonstrative event, but the main focus appeared to be on the visibility of bisexuality, a sexual orientation often deemed invisible or ignored within the LGBT community, under the slogan “Visibilizing bisexuality,” a term coined for the event itself.

Other themes that appeared throughout the week included “Unmarried mothers, children with rights” speaking to the rights of surrogates and the rights of their biological children, and “What is LGBTphobia and how to combat it?”

The week, organized this year by Nuria Cogolludo, a councilwoman of the area, Juan José Sánchez, the president of Bolo-Bolo, and the Youth Council of the area focused their efforts on creating educational activities and events in the form of presentations and conferences. For example, the Progressive Student Union of Castilla-La Mancha held a colloquium on the “Realities of the LGBT community in the University of Castilla-La Mancha,” among many others.

2015

Although there is not much information online about Pride Week in Toledo in 2015, the theme of Pride Week in 2015 was “Laws for real equality already.” And as usual, there were a vast array of both conferences and screenings throughout Toledo to promote LGBT awareness and issues such as:

• “Myths of romantic love” (Spanish title: “Los mitos del amor romántico”), conference by Alejandro Piña Redondo, psychologist and volunteer at the Youth Center for Contraception and Sexuality for the community of Madrid.
• Screening of “The Journey of Carla” (Spanish title: “El viaje de Carla”), a documentary.
• “Shared maternity. Techniques for assisted reproduction,” a conference led by Dr. Elena Martín Hidalgo, gynecologist, and Dr. Silvia Jiménez Bravo, biologist.
• “Diversity and the gypsy community: the gypsy woman,” a conference led by María del Carmen Cortés, lawyer for the Department of Equality and the Fight Against Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in the Community of Madrid.

Like always, the week concluded with the presentation of the prize in honor of Javier Fernández to a group of people:

• Ana Saavedra, councilwoman of the City Council of Toledo and president of the Local Women’s Council.
• Aurelio San Emeterio, speaker for the United Left Municipal Group in the City Council of Toledo.
• Association of Men for Gender Equality (AHIGE).

One notable aspect of this year was the inclusion of many presentations, performances, and appearances by drag queens, including Nacha La Macha, Las Fellini, Libula The Luxe, and Rocinanta.

2016

Although 2016 clearly continued many of the themes from past years such as promoting the visibility of bisexuality within the LGBT community, the emphasis of the year was placed on transexual identities, including transexual youth and the depathologization of transexuality. Due to the diversity of the issues facing the LGBT community, the manifesto of the event itself was diverse in the topics it discussed and actions it demanded be taken by the local and national governments and communities.

One key aspect of this manifesto was access to healthcare and changing of the laws regarding healthcare for transexual community members, specifically minors. The manifesto called for the right of a transexual minor to be able to make their own decision when it comes to their health choices and have access to hormone blockers or hormone replacements to coincide with their gender and/or sexual identity. The demand for rights of transexual minors also extended to school bathrooms in which children can choose to use the bathroom that coincides with their identity, and how the government should intervene when a family does not accept a child’s transition.

The manifesto then expanded to other more broad topics such as fighting the stigma against people who are HIV-positive, fighting bullying in schools, and fighting for rights for surrogate mothers and families who use surrogacy as a means to have children.

Pride Week in 2016 was supported by the Council for Youth and Equality, Bolo-Bolo, the Daniela Foundation, councilmen from PSOE and Ganemos, and the mayor of Toledo, Milagros Tolón. The Daniela Foundation was especially instrumental to this year’s theme, being an organization dedicated to supporting the transexual and transgender community through social, psychological, educational, and clinical help.

Pride Week 2016 was also marked as a historic year in that it tragically coincided with both the death of Pedro Zerolo, one of the largest advocates for the legalization of gay marriage in Spain, and the massacre of 49 people in a gay club in Orlando, Florida. However, the year was also marked proudly as the first year in which the rainbow flag representing the LGBT community was hung from the townhall of Toledo.

The week concluded with the local festival called “Over the Rainbow” and the granting of the Javier Fernández prize to the ex-councilmen, Aurelio San Emeterio and Nuria Cogolludo, and Carmen Fernández, the founder of the Women’s Association of Toledo.

2017

2017 officially marked the tenth anniversary of Pride Week in Toledo along with the sixteenth anniversary of the founding of the Foundation Bolo-Bolo. One important aspect of the event to note was the presence of multiple local politicians at “Toledo Entiende” 2017, including:

• Inés Sandoval (PSOE- Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party)
• Teo García (PSOE)
• Javier Mateo (Ganemos)
• Diego Mejías (Ganemos)
• Claudia Alonso (PP- Popular Party)
• José García Molina (Secretary General of Podemos in Castilla-La Mancha)
• David Llorente (Molina’s co-worker in the regional courts)

The presence of Claudia Alonso was especially noteworthy as the political platform of the Popular Party in Spain has historically fought against the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The theme or slogan for 2017 was a repetition for a third time of “Leyes por la igualdad real ya” or “Laws for real equality already” once again noticing the discrepancy between written legal equality and practiced social and cultural equality. However, many citizens noted that the hanging of the rainbow flag from the City Council building was a true symbol that this more ambiguous cultural and social equality was slowly being achieved.

This year once again was a year marked by a wide array of presentations of art and conferences or discussions on LGBT topics, many of which this year were held at the bar El Internacional, or The International, such as:

• Presentation of “What is PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV)?” by Jorge Garrido, owner and expert on PrEP.
• Presentation of “Non-binary reports” by Eco Salinas, queer activist.
• Performance and recitation of poetry by Duna Haller, poet and audiovisual artist.
• Presentation of “Invisibility of intragender violence” by Loren González, expert on HIV/AIDS from FELGTB.
• Presentation of the children’s book, “Pink Monster” (Spanish title: “Monstruo Rosa”), written by OLGA de DIOS.
• Concert performed by Mauri and Estrogenuinas.
• Party of “Over the Rainbow” with Piruli DJ, Ama and Rocinanta, Supremme Deluxe, and Vanessa LeKlein.

To end the week, the organizers of Pride Week spoke to the future. They talked of the great battles still to come in the LGBT community such as depathologizing transexuality, eliminating intragender violence, ending conversion therapy, and prohibiting surgery on intersex babies. However, like always, the week also ended with a reflection on the past, as symbolized by the granting of the prize of Javier Fernández to both the association of FELGTB to honor its 25th anniversary and to Maribel Blanco, an important LGBT activist in the community of Castilla-La Mancha. In this way, this most recent year of Pride Week was an excellent moment for everyone to reflect on how far the LGBT community had come in Toledo and in Spain but how far it has yet to go to guarantee the equality they so desire.

Controversy

At the beginning of Pride Week’s creation, many liberal citizens criticized the event stating that the Week truly was only “Toledo understanding” the LGBT community for a few days, and then everything would return to the status quo of invisibility and discrimination.

However, conservative citizens also got their say on the matter and said that the education of adolescents on LGBT topics was an invasion of privacy that should not be tolerated within the community.

This conservative ideology was further instigated by the Popular Party of Spain which made it its mission to overturn the law passed in 2005 legalizing marriage between same-sex couples. The leaders of “Toledo Entiende” and the local media of course understood this national opposition to their own personal goals of diversity and equality; however, the three media postings on the website for “Toledo Entiende” speaking to the dissent of the Popular Party in Spain (the Popular Party was the only Spanish political party to not support the pride marches around the country) have since been deleted from each media platform’s website.

Criticism has also come from inside the LGBT community in that Pride Week has never addressed the problems faced by asexual citizens and their own identities. Instead, the annual marches choose to repeat various themes rather than explore other themes and issues faced by the community members who make up the plus in the LGBTQ+ community.