Inviting LGBTQ Tourists: Lisbon Hosts EuroPride Celebration
In the heart of the bohemian Bairro Alto neighborhood, Carlos Sanches Ruivo, a 57-year-old dual French-Portuguese citizen, proudly runs the boutique hotel, The Late Birds, with a focus on the LGBTQ community. With guests hailing from over 114 different nationalities, this quaint establishment in the cobbled alleys is a beacon of inclusivity.
Leaving his engineering job in France in 2012, Ruivo sought a change of scenery in Lisbon, Portugal's capital, which he described as more relaxed than other European cities. Though once heavily influenced by Catholic conservatism, the tiny nation has emerged as a trailblazer in LGBTQ rights.
Portugal’s journey, marked by the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1982 and the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2010, includes a ban on "conversion therapy" and protection against transgender discrimination.[Enrichment Data] This strides forward paved the way for its status as a gay-friendly city, albeit not at the scale of Berlin or San Francisco.[Enrichment Data]
Living in Portugal for over five years, 58-year-old Brazilian Paulo Morais shared that he has never encountered any issues regarding his rights. He and 35-year-old Italian expat Sonia Montanari echoed the sentiment, stating they have never felt unsafe in Lisbon.
Fueled by this inclusiveness, LGBTQ tourism in Lisbon has witnessed substantial growth, attracting approximately two million tourists annually, contributing nearly two billion euros to the economy according to local business owners.[Enrichment Data] In response, organizations like Variacoes, a chamber of commerce, champion the rights and needs of this expanding demographic.
Named after Antonio Variacoes, a groundbreaking pop icon who challenged cultural norms during Portugal's post-dictatorship period, the association advocates for a flourishing LGBTQ tourism market with above-average purchasing power and strong growth potential.[Enrichment Data] The highlight of this year's EuroPride festival, an event advocating for LGBTQ equality, is the Saturday parade along main avenues with the motto "Proudly Yourselves."[Enrichment Data]
Despite these strides, organizations like ILGA Portugal call for continued vigilance due to political opposition, hate speech normalization, and security concerns connected to far-right extremism.[Enrichment Data] Jose Marquina, president of Variacoes and owner of Finalmente, a renowned Lisbon nightclub famous for its drag shows, emphasized the need to "show our unity in the face of the rise across Europe of far-right parties pushing a conservative social agenda opposed to LGBTQ rights."[Enrichment Data]
The inclusiveness offered by Lisbon, as a result of its progressive LGBTQ rights policies, has attracted over two million tourists annually, significantly boosting the local economy. This trend has led organizations like Variacoes, championing the rights of the LGBTQ community, to strive for a thriving and prosperous LGBTQ tourism market.
