This is the first LGBTIQ+ Rromani gathering in Spain since 2017, aimed at building networks, raising awareness of people’s experiences and creating safe spaces
Two days of activities, dialogue and culture have shaped the first LGBTIQ+ Rromani gathering in Seville since 2017 – and the first of its kind in Andalusia and Seville – a pioneering initiative that places the voices of Rromani gender and sexual diversity at the centre, alongside their right to live with dignity, without fear and as part of a community.
On 18 and 19 June 2026, the Hogar Virgen de los Reyes in Seville hosted a gathering that went far beyond the official agenda. Above all, it was a space to assert our identities, recognise one another and collectively build new ways of being and resisting racism and LGBTIphobia.
The programme combined private, safe spaces with activities open to the public, striking a balance between personal care and social visibility.
A safe space to start sharing
The first day began with a safe space session aimed at LGBTIQ+ Rroma People, designed as a protected space where they could speak from their own experience. From the welcome session through to the group discussion sessions (LGBTIQ, GTBIQ and allies), the day focused on building trust, sharing experiences and putting into words realities that are often left out of the public narrative.
These discussions addressed key issues such as relationships with family and the community, the experience of living in the closet, and the need to have one’s own support networks. The session concluded with a group discussion which also served to raise a question for the future: what role should a potential LGBTIQ+ Rromani network play, and what priorities should it set?
Far from being a mere exchange of ideas, the meeting took shape as a first concrete step towards collective action.
Activism, culture and critical thinking
On the afternoon of 18 June, the programme broadened its scope with a series of open discussions bringing together activists, thinkers and cultural figures. Over the course of several hours, topics such as culture as a tool for transformation, Rromani transfeminism and tensions with hegemonic masculinity both within and outside the community were explored.
The contributions went beyond theory. They addressed specific lives, real conflicts and strategies for tackling violence. Within this framework, the reading of the ‘Seville 2026 Declarations’ gave a collective voice to the demands and reflections arising from different perspectives: LBTIQ and GTBIQ Rroma people and their allies (both Rroma and non-Rroma).
The event also incorporated artistic expression, with audiovisual screenings and a symbolic closing ceremony featuring a toast to Rroma Pride. A simple gesture which, in this context, takes on a profound meaning: celebrating existence, pride and the right to be.
Culture to open up cracks
The event was not limited to talks. The cultural programme played a central role, featuring a performance of the play ‘Puños de harina’ and book launches such as ‘Biopolítica del Armario’ and ‘Propaganda Queer’.
These proposals broadened the narrative by drawing on other languages, demonstrating how culture can also be a political tool and a space for resistance.
Pioneers who lead the way and recognition that matters
One of the symbolic moments of the event was the recognition of the actress Alba Flores as an LGBTIQ+ role model. This recognition took place as part of the 2nd LGBTIQ+ Awards Gala, where she was honoured in the ‘Role Model’ category alongside other key figures.
The award, nominated and accepted on her behalf by La Fragua Projects, through Iñaki Vázquez and Celia Montoya, highlights the importance of having visible role models who pave the way, especially for those who grow up without role models to look up to.
Alongside Alba Flores, the contributions of others – such as Shannis’s work in defending trans rights – were also recognised, broadening the focus to include other vital struggles within the LGTBIQ+ movement. This kind of recognition is not merely symbolic: it helps to shape our collective narrative, memory and vision.
A first step that leaves its mark
This first LGTBIQ+ Rromani gathering has not merely been an event, but a starting point. It has served to give a voice to a reality that exists, even though it has historically been rendered invisible, and to forge the first connections in a network that aims to continue growing.
In a context where anti-Rroma sentiment and LGBTI-phobia continue to shape people’s lives, initiatives such as this are not only necessary: they are urgent. The experience in Seville has left those who took part with a shared conviction: when people create their own safe, collective spaces, things happen.
And this was just the first one.
Source: La Fragua Projects
Images: La Fragua Projects
Photo: Alba Flores