My first gay pride parade

Valencia, Spain – June 2022

When I decided on Spain for my destination during June (which famously is gay pride month), I did look up dates for pride events there and was surprised to find that even Valencia had some celebrations happening. As I planned to stay there for a while anyway, I made sure to be in town on 25 June for the big parade. And I am happy to report that it was 100% worth it! But first things first: I arrive from Alicante the day before the parade, very tired of partying (and people) after 4 nights out in a row. So against my plan to meet someone to go to pride with, I don’t talk to anyone at the hostel and spend the day roaming the town centre by myself.

I look up the route of the march and head to the start point about an hour before the parade is supposed to begin. Unfortunately, I do not find any cheap takeaway food places on the way. So I arrive kinda hungry, a little nervous and very excited. The music blasting from the several lined-up busses can be heard a few blocks down the street. People dressed in colourful (but little) outfits and wearing rainbow-flag-capes are already dancing, chattering and drinking next to them. Some are holding cardboard signs while others are fixing their elaborate make-up. I feel a bit out of place in my little black dress and buy a colourful fan from a street vendor covered in rainbow gadgets. This turns out to be a great purchase considering the evening heat.

Most people are hanging out in groups and the few I see standing by themselves are either waiting for friends or seem unapproachable. So I decide to enjoy myself and take in all of what’s going on. At around 8.10pm a small firework on the Pont de l’Exposició announces the start of the parade and the first group of drummers make their way to the Plaça de l’Ajuntament. The atmosphere is very positive and cheerful. The people marching enjoy themselves and everyone standing on either side of the street cheers them on. I am having a great time reading the signs people are holding and listening to their chants. Exhilarated by being surrounded by soo many like-minded people, the sun and good music, I feel like I am on top of the world.

Once the busses join the parade, I start to walk along the crowd and stop here and there when people are handing out stickers and leaflets. By now I am rather hungry and keep watching out for a kebab place to get some falafel while continuing to walk towards the Town Hall square which marks the end of the parade. Just when I get there, I spot a tall guy in a light blue shirt who looks familiar. I realize he’s staying in the same dorm as me and still on my dopamine high, spontaneously go up to him and say hi. It takes him a second to recognize me, but then he happily invites me to tag along with the group of people from our hostel. Little after, a girl he used to live with and her Valencia-flatmate join us and we head to Carrefour to buy some beers.

The two girls who live here – Julianne and Valeria – are both from Latin America and speak Spanish. So we immediately hit it off. We take our beers to the by now rather wild party in front of the stage on the main square and dance to the reggaeton tunes. There is also an awesome Drag show going on. The crowd goes absolutely mad when one of the artists performs “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child. With the whole queer audience joining in, the lyrics become even more meaningful.

But despite this little moment of feeling the power of this colourful community, I can no longer suppress my bodily needs: a whole bag of chips along with my beer was simply not enough for dinner. Julianne mentions a café around the corner and her, Valeria and I go on the quest of finding something to eat. By now it’s 12am and even by Spanish standards, that’s late for dinner. Understandably, most of the restaurants are now closing and we end up walking almost all the way back to my hostel.

On a busy square, we finally find a branch of Tia Juana that’s still serving food. They even have some vegan options for Valeria, and I get my Michelada. So everyone’s happy. We bond over reading all the corny slogans printed on the walls and exchange Instagram handles. A few tacos later, the waiter finally tells us that they’re closing and so we pay and head back to the Plaça de l’Ajuntament. Most of the party people are now wasted and wildly move their bodies to the rave sounds. We join Flores (the guy from my dorm) and one of the Belgian girls at Burger King, where they have been waiting for 30 minutes to get their 2 Whoppers. While they continue to wait, us 3 girls check out the small orgy going on in front of and inside the male bathroom upstairs.

When we get back down, Julienne takes action and within 2 minutes gets the staff to hand over the 2 burgers. Another 2 minutes later, the burgers are gone and we decide it’s time to go home. I make plans with Julienne and Valeria to meet up later during the week and then walk back to the hostel with Flores and the Belgian girl. We have some deep talks about feminism and our coming outs, before unsuccessfully trying to not wake up the people who are already sleeping in our room. Flores checks out the next morning and kindly joins me on my trip to the laundromat. We have some delicious hangover-bocadillos and chat a bit more before finally saying goodbye.