It was a historic occasion in Sala París last February 8, when for the first time ever FC Barcelona held a reception for a group of gays and lesbians. This is also the first supporters club of its type in the Spanish league.

The event formed part of the Queer Football Fanclubs Meeting held over the weekend in Barcelona and that debated such issues as the discrimination against the homosexual supporters of a variety of European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Köln, Hertha Berlin, Saint Pauli, Karlsruhe, Mainz, Berne, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Bradford City.

Numerous authorities

 

Josep Ribes, president of the Penya Blaugrana de Gais i Lesbianes, described the event as historic. It was attended by such dignitaries as Carme Porta, Secretary for Families in the Generalitat’s Social Welfare Department; Joaquim Mestre, governor for Civil Rights on the Barcelona Council; Lluís Monge, of the Federation of Municipalities; Jordi Petit, ex-secretary of the International Lesbian and Gay Association and Tanja Walther-Arens, member of FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) and the European Federation of gay and Lesbian Sports.

FC Barcelona was represented by directors Albert Perrín, Xavier Bagués, Patrick Auset and Jordi Torrent as well as the Members’ Representative, Magda Oranich. Bagués welcomed the supporters club members and invited them to enjoy the moment because “the inauguration of your crest at the stadium is one of the most emotional moments for any supporters club”. And that was precisely the next item on the schedule.

Inauguration of club crest

 

The inauguration of the club’s crest on the Camp Nou wall was the last of a series of events in support of equality and against discrimination in football in particular and society in general.

Social Commission director, Elvira Pou, hosted an emotional ceremony with plenty of applause for all concerned. And deservedly so, for almost two years on from the moment their club was officially founded, the Penya Blaugrana de Gais i Lesbianes has made a considerable mark on the Barça supporters movement.