The EPOA will meet in the Biscay capital with the aim of deciding in which city the EuroPride 2022 is held, following the proposal of the City of Bilbao and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia to hold the meeting there, which has amounted to more than 70,000 euros. The LGTBI+ movement has been seen “in the need to cope with the assimilationist and mercantilist model that defends this association”, and with this objective it has called for mobilization. Platforms. Proud is not €uros Pride! Not on our behalf! The march will depart at 17:30 hours from the Plaza del Arriaga de Bilbao under the slogan Lemoa.

The meeting platform is part of the “strategy of neoliberalism in relation to the LGTBI+ struggle”, a strategy that, in his words, is spreading in the Basque Country. In addition to attempts to organize international projects, they have pointed out that other aspects can be detected such as the opening of hotels for gays or the institutional hegemony of several LGTBI+ associations.

“Proud! The LGTBI+ partnerships that we form the platform are concerned about these initiatives that the institutions, with the support of some LGTBI+ associations, are imposing. They use our name, that of lesbian women, that of maricas and that of trans women, to cover up the exclusionary policies that apply to other groups that have not managed to get out of their shores,” they denounced in a public statement in which they call the demonstration. They denounce that “while institutions promote a model of society and an exclusive city, elitist and capitalist, they use their collective to generate an image of openness and tolerance”.

They have also pointed out the close link between this strategy and the destructive tourism model, which makes cities become “pure showcase”: “That is, in theme parks covering inequality, precariousness, poverty, exclusion”. In this sense, they have made it clear that they do not want gay-friendly tourism that precarizes and gentrifies: “Not on our behalf. We will not allow ourselves to become a brand!”

“The attempt to absorb a struggle for economic benefit and political interest is not new either in our own or in other movements,” they stressed. Aware of this, they have expressed their desire to weave networks and alliances with the social and collective agents that remain standing before neoliberalism. It is clear that this is an intersectional struggle, and that is why they have called for the unity of all the fronts opposed to capitalism in terms of manifestation.

Adherence of the social majority

The will to weave networks and alliances has been enthusiastically met by a number of actors: On the eve of the EPOA visit, the platform has received the support of over 120 agents who have joined the demonstration. “The social majority is going to be on the street. Proud of the social majority! From the platform will be at the demonstration starting on 21 September at 17.30 p.m. from the Arriaga,” the platform said.

The platform has announced that it will mobilize the majority of collective transmaribollos of Euskal Herria, transmaribollos collectives of the Spanish State, feminist movements, youth and students, okupación movement and all unions. “These groups and associations will accompany us on Saturday to the EPOA meeting to scream out loud: 'Pride is not proud. We're not for sale!' ”.

They have also joined the Bizkaia Metal workers, who work in the area. On that day the workers have organized a day of struggle and in the afternoon they will join the demonstration called by Harro! To be held in Bilbao.

Weekend programme

In addition to the demonstration, the platform has organised several activities for the weekend, at the Gaztetxe Zazpi Katu. Friday, September 20, Harro! Workshop presentation of the platform and talk “What is behind the Bilbao Bizkaia Pride?”. Round tables will be held on Saturday morning on the assimilation processes and the effects of macro-events. After the demonstration of the afternoon, which is the main initiative, the festival will take place with the festival “(H)ortz-adarra jo!” at the Gaztetxe Zazpi Katu.