The island commemorates a decade of progress in LGBT+ rights with Orgullo Chiquito in Tazacorte and the Isla Bonita Love Festival, which has gathered major artists.
The island of La Palma has commemorated this summer the tenth anniversary of the beginning of a process that positioned it as a reference in the defence of affective-sexual diversity and the rights of the LGBT+ community. Ten years after that first step, the balance is positive, but the advocacy continues.
In 2016, La Palma hosted the first political and social convention in the Canary Islands dedicated to the rights of the LGBT+ community, driven within the framework of the Isla Bonita Love Festival. That event, which brought together tens of thousands of people under the rainbow flag, opened an unprecedented space for dialogue and understanding of diversity, transforming the way this reality was approached on an island where until then the debate was uncommon outside the major cities.
As a result of that momentum, Violetas was born, following the implementation of a pioneering Strategic Plan by the island council. This plan, which remains in effect although an update is planned, allowed the consolidation of the LGBT+ community of La Palma as a distinct and independent entity, no longer depending on the organisation from Tenerife.
Ten years later, the island celebrated Orgullo Chiquito again in the streets of Tazacorte, a municipality considered a reference for the LGBT+ community in La Palma. The name does not refer to the size of the movement, but to the historic nickname of "Little Paris," with which the municipality was known for decades due to its open and cosmopolitan character.
The project has combined from its inception the advocacy of rights with a strategy focused on education, social development, and economic growth. This initiative positioned La Palma in the circuit of destinations for LGBT+ tourism, using culture and music as tools to project an image of an open and diverse island.
The first editions of the Isla Bonita Love Festival set the path from the Port of Tazacorte with performances by artists such as Amaral, Miguel Bosé, Maná, Sebastián Yatra, and Mónica Naranjo. At the same time, the Social Agenda consolidated as a fundamental pillar, bringing together figures from LGBT+ activism and culture.
Over the years, the festival expanded its dimension and became one of the major musical events of the summer in the Canary Islands, featuring internationally renowned artists such as Martin Garrix, Ricky Martin, Juan Luis Guerra, and Quevedo. The Social Agenda continued to grow with figures like Carla Antonelli, Bob Pop, and Topacio Fresh, reinforcing the commitment to awareness and equality.
The growth of the event led to the creation of LOVE TV, one of the first audiovisual platforms linked to a festival, which extended the reach of the Social Agenda beyond La Palma.
However, the present reminds us that challenges persist. Two days before Orgullo Chiquito, the Orgulloneta, the municipal vehicle used to promote the event, suffered an act of vandalism: the rainbow flag was torn off and one of its mirrors was broken. This episode highlights that the defence of equality and diversity remains a current demand.
La Palma thus celebrates a decade of progress, combining advocacy, culture, and promotion of the territory, with an eye on the challenges that still lie ahead.
You may also like
