News
The mayor of Barcelona presents a video with a drag queen to support the bid for WorldPride 2030
Barcelona wants to become the host city for WorldPride 2030, and its mayor, Jaume Collboni, has decided to promote the bid with a video featuring drag queen Sharonne. The city is already one of the two finalists, along with Bangkok, and will find out the result before 1 November, during an international assembly to be held in Phuket, Thailand.
Barcelona is on the verge of securing one of the major international events of the LGTBI+ movement. The city's bid to host WorldPride 2030 has reached the final selection stage, where it is competing directly with the Thai capital, Bangkok.
To strengthen the proposal, mayor Jaume Collboni has posted a video on Instagram in which he uses the language and aesthetics of drag culture to highlight the history of LGTBI+ activism in Barcelona.
The message combines references to the city's past with its aspiration to host an international celebration in four years' time.
A video featuring drag queens and a reference to La Bola Negra
The campaign brings back La Bola Negra, a reference Collboni uses to talk about the difficulties, rejections, and obstacles that have historically faced the LGTBI+ community.
In his post, the mayor recalls that behind every right won there are stories of resistance and collective organisation.
He also presents Barcelona as a city that aims to continue defending diversity and the freedom for people to express their identity.
The video is part of the campaign supporting the bid and aims to highlight its cultural and historical dimension, beyond the tourist appeal of an event of this kind.
Barcelona and Bangkok, the two finalists
The selection of the host city for WorldPride 2030 has entered its decisive phase.
Barcelona is sharing the final with Bangkok, two cities vying to host one of the most prominent international gatherings on the LGTBI+ calendar.
The decision will be made at an assembly to be held in Phuket, Thailand, before 1 November.
Therefore, although Barcelona has passed the previous stages of the process, it has not yet secured the organisation of the event.
Why the year 2030 is special for Barcelona
Barcelona's bid places special emphasis on the historical significance of the chosen date.
In 2030, it will be 25 years since the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Spain, which was approved in 2005.
Collboni also links that year to half a century of the first struggles and demonstrations of the LGTBI+ movement in Barcelona.
The mayor uses both anniversaries to present WorldPride as an opportunity to remember the progress made and to highlight the challenges that remain.
What is WorldPride?
WorldPride is an international celebration that brings together marches, cultural activities, gatherings, and events related to the rights and visibility of LGTBI+ people.
Unlike local Pride celebrations, its programme aims to attract participants and organisations from many countries.
If Barcelona is chosen, the city will be able to prepare an edition linked to its history of activism and the commemorations planned for 2030.
For now, the bid is still awaiting the final vote in Phuket. Before the end of October, it will be known whether Barcelona or Bangkok will host WorldPride 2030.