Sitges is reaffirming its struggle against LGTBI-phobia with an institutional event on Sunday 17 May as part of the commemorations of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). The Councillor's Office of Social Rights, Citizenship and Equality, in conjunction with Colors Sitges Link, is organising the commemoration, which will proclaim the defence of freedom and the rights of the LGTBI+ community with the reading of the institutional manifesto of the Coordination Commission of the National LGBTI Council of the Government of Catalonia.

The Councillor for Social Rights, Citizenship and Equality, Xavier Ripoll, asserts the importance of a day that is ‘crucial in the history of the LGTBI+ community. The defence of the community’s freedom and rights is an ongoing struggle that continues to require everyone's cooperation to permanently work towards a more inclusive, egalitarian and free society.’

Participants in the institutional event include the mayor of Sitges, Aurora Carbonell, and councillor Xavier Ripoll. The event will begin at 6 pm in Plaça de l’Ajuntament, which will mark the starting point of a protest march that will reach the Pink Triangle, the monument against homophobia, located on Passeig Marítim near L’Estanyol beach.

At 6.45 pm, when everyone has reached the Pink Triangle, the institutional manifesto will be read by councillor Xavier Ripoll and members of Colors Sitges Link, and the traditional floral offering will be left at the monument. This year's institutional manifesto proclaims the importance of continuing the struggle against LGTBI-phobia in a global context in which there are still countries where this community suffers from oppression and criminalisation. It also focuses on Catalonia, where LGTBI-phobia remains present in different spheres of society and violates this group’s rights, especially trans people and those who are in situations of vulnerability.

The series of actions advocated in the manifesto include rolling out Act 13/2025 on the rights of LGTBI+ people and eradicating LGTBI-phobia; strengthening the SAI LGTBI Network as a crucial local service for victims of discrimination; improving the care, management and tracking mechanisms of complaints of LGTBI-phobia; mainstreaming the LGTBI+ perspective in all public policies; guaranteeing inclusive education; combatting hate speech; and supporting research to better identify discrimination and improve public policies.

After the event, Colors Sitges Link is hosting a gathering and picnic on L'Estanyol beach for participants. 

IDAHOBIT

IDAHOBIT is commemorated on 17 May to mark the date in 1990 when the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

June, Pride month

Sitges is commemorating Pride Day with a range of activities which will last throughout the month of June, all seeking to celebrate plurality, bring visibility to the LGTBIQ+ community and continue working towards the defence of their rights. Yet another year, one of the core events will be the Sitges Pride parade. The entire programme will soon be posted on the municipal website www.sitges.cat and the Sitges City Council’s official social media.