Podemos Palma has presented the second edition of 'Vagas i Maleantes', a LGTBI advocacy day that will take place on July 17 at sa Feixina. The party calls for the square to be filled with 'colourful rags' in response to statements made by a Vox councillor.
On Friday, July 17, the square of sa Feixina in Palma will once again be filled with colour and advocacy. Podemos Palma has organised the second edition of 'Vagas i Maleantes: queer insurrection against fascism', a day that combines protest, art, and celebration. The event, presented this Wednesday, aims to be a voice against hate speech and in defence of the rights of the LGTBIQ+ community.
The coordinator of Podem Illes Balears and councillor at the Palma City Council, Lucía Muñoz, explained that the name of the event evokes the Vagrancy and Maleantes Law, a Francoist regulation that persecuted poor individuals and the LGTBI community. "We do this because today we still see how too often Mayor Martínez prefers to criminalise those who live on the margins instead of guaranteeing them rights," Muñoz pointed out.
A Space for Democratic Memory
The choice of sa Feixina is not accidental. For Podemos, the monument to the cruiser Baleares that presides over the square "should not remain standing in a democracy". Muñoz has been emphatic: "The monolith must be toppled. And as long as it remains here, we will not look the other way. We will continue to fill this space with democratic memory, antifascism, and colourful rags in front of those who want us invisible." The reference to 'colourful rags' alludes to statements made by a Vox councillor who referred to the LGTBI flag in this way during the May plenary session.
The event, which will start in the afternoon, will feature a musical lineup led by the Barcelona-based collective Me Siento Extraña, focused on gender dissent. Also performing will be Baaldo, who will present a new pop album, and Xisk, with a sound that fuses urban music and techno. The session by DJ Random Nancy and the opening speech by Cotorrita will complete the programme. The poster for this edition has been designed by the queer artist DVNO.
Response to the Commercialisation of Pride
Muñoz has criticised the Palma City Council, governed by the PP with Vox, for "dismantling LGTBI policies and commercialising Pride". In response, Podemos advocates for the protection of the rights of the community and the social organisation of the working class. "On July 17, we want to demonstrate once again that, in the face of fascism, hate speech, and the persecution of the most vulnerable, the answer is more community, more culture, and more pride," concluded the councillor.
For the residents of Palma, the event represents an opportunity to participate in a festive day with a strong advocacy character. Entry is free and a high turnout is expected, as in the previous edition. Those who attend will find a space of music, art, and debate in the heart of the city, right in a place that remains a symbol of pending historical memory.
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