Monument to Gay Memories: A Tribute to the First LGBT Memorial in Spain

A monument in memory of the gay, lesbian, and transgender community was erected in the Park of the Citadel on March 21, 2011. Built by the City's Parks and Gardens Institute, the memorial honors the LGBTQ+ community, specifically those who have faced persecution throughout history. Designed with an inverted triangle, the monument consists of stone from Montjuïc Mountain. Each side of the triangle measures three meters long, while the base is four meters wide. The structure is bordered by a pink metal ribbon, and the inscription is in Catalan.

The design of the monument is inspired by the triangles used by Nazis to mark gay prisoners. The idea for a memorial in a central location was part of the permanent recognition and visibility actions of the 2010-2015 Barcelona City Hall LGBT Plan. The monument's purpose is to promote the visibility of a diverse and plural society, according to the City Councilor of Civil Rights.

Initially planned to be located in front of the Sagrada Familia, the memorial was eventually placed in the Park of the Citadel, a location that carries historical significance. In 1991, six neo-Nazi skinheads killed Sonia Rescalvo, a transgender woman, in the same park, prompting the demand for a memorial in the area. The inauguration of the memorial was attended by over two hundred people, including representatives from all political parties present in the Barcelona City Hall, with the exception of the Popular Party.

Barcelona's mayor, Jordi Hereu, stated that the memorial is a 'declaration of intent' for the city, positioning itself at the forefront of equal rights campaigns with no distinctions based on sexual orientation. Located in the same spot where Sonia Rescalvo was murdered by neo-Nazi skinheads, the monument serves as a reminder of the struggles faced by the LGBT community. The monument is dedicated to all those who have faced persecution throughout history and to promoting a more inclusive and diverse society.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons