Good afternoon and thank you very much for your presence.

Today, Sunday May 17^th we celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Interphobia, or LGTBIphobia in brief.

In actual fact, 25 years ago today, in 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.

It is also the 10^th anniversary of this event since first celebrated on this date in 2005. Hence, you can see that this memorial is still in its infancy/first age.

LGBTIphobia throughout the world is a sad and harsh reality, as TV and Internet images show us; very recently we have seen shocking videos from Islamic State of people being thrown from the tops of buildings in Syria an Iraq just because of their homosexuality, this is just one horrific example.

Nowadays, same-sex relationships are illegal in 76 countries (one less than last year). These 76 countries represent 44% of the world population.

Countries like Mauritania, Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen actually implement the death penalty. In Brunei, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Qatar the death penalty is within their law but is not implemented.

In 2013, 5 billion people, that is 70% of the world population, live under laws and regulations that limit their freedom of expression around sexual orientation and gender identity.

70% of African countries have explicit criminal laws. 22 out of 46 Asian countries criminalise same-sex behaviour.

This is why a day like today cannot and should not go unnoticed.

Luckily, the understanding and acceptance of sexual and gender diversity is growing. 87% of World countries are moving towards stronger approval of homosexual behaviour.

Marriage is open for same-sex couples in 19 countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Brazil, France, Uruguay, New Zealand, UK (Excluding N. Ireland), Luxembourg, whose Prime Minister married his same sex partner just a few days ago, and, of course, Spain. Slovenia will be joining this list sometime during 2015. 37 US states have same-sex marriage legislation. 17 additional countries recognize civil unions between people of the same sex.

In Spain, we are lucky that almost 10 years ago (July 3^rd 2005) the Civil Code was reformed to allow same-sex marriage.

More specifically here, In Catalonia, since the end of last year we have a law that gives rights to gays and lesbians against homophobia. This law’s objective is to guarantee rights to the LGBTI community, to suppress the situations of discrimination and violence and to facilitate the participation and representation of the LGBTI community in all aspects of social life.

Although the law has been passed, there is still a lot of work to be done for an effective implementation. LGBTIphobia, unfortunately still exists in our society, at our work place and especially in schools. A vast majority of young LGBTI people claim to have suffered harassment at their schools.

Behind us you can see the first ever Monument Against Homophobia erected in Spain. This inverted pink triangle, a symbol that identified homosexuals in nazi concentration camps, and here represents an apology from the Sitges Council for a homophobic event that happened during the summer of 1996, at which some neo-nazi groups, and sadly some local people, took part.

Luckily, Sitges has international recognition for being one of the most open-minded towns and most respectful of gender and sexual diversity. This is why we have to understand and celebrate that many LGBTI folk come to visit us and are able to live their sexual identity without masks, something they cannot do in their own places of origin.

This is why we should ALL be very PROUD for what Sitges means to the world LGBTI community.

We should be ever mindful that the popularity of Sitges, as an LGBTI destination, can overwhelm a very small minority at times and by their intensity, do not behave in a correct manner and therefore make harmonious living difficult. It is, sadly, part of human nature.

But it is wrong to blame these problems solely on the LGBTI community and extreme reactions can sometimes be considered a homophobic attitude.

This is why from here, on such a significant day, we would like to advocate the MUTUAL respect and the JOINT search for meaningful solutions. Solutions that make the entire Sitges population and the local government proud of the profound significance and relevance that this town has all over the world.

HURRAY FOR SITGES, ITS PEOPLE, AND LETS SAY NO TO HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA !