Tuesday, 31 July 2018

Walk on By

“I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go
round and round",
didn’t John Lennon sing these lyrics? 

One evening sitting at Central Bar Cafe Sitges… I look around and see the elderly strolling, taking in the sweet air coming in from the sea, the families, the lovers, the occasional DRAG Queen on her way to work; the musician seeking attention despite the music already filling the atmosphere in competition with his talent, or a duo of mossos wearing their berets stylishly with a 45º tilt across their foreheads (how else is a beret worn?) ensures that all is well in our world.
The whole world sometimes passes through la Placa d’Indusrìa. People-watching in other parts of Sitges is fairly straight forward. However, in la Placa d’Indusrìa you’ll see a variety of humanity. People from the four corners of the Earth walking, kissing, laughing, playing. Men and women, and all who live in between. The gender-benders - and I mean that sincerely. As they say, all the colours of the rainbow - and it’s beautiful to see.

On this splendid occasion, I couldn’t help but wonder... What exactly do tourists see? Something queer and wonderful or simply something strange?

The visiting beachcombers unashamedly walking up arguably the busiest street in town barefoot and half-naked (what are they thinking?) as we gaze at them in disbelief. Of course, not a word, in any language, is said for that matter, not that we can hear.

If you’re in people-watch mode early enough in the mornings you’ll see store owners, deliveries being made, and housewives in house dresses or aprons mopping their portion of the sidewalk, obviously spaces considered to be public extensions of their homes. I know the scene all too well, for it brings back memories of another place and time in my childhood in Antigua, but I digress...

In Sitges during anytime of the year, especially in summer, you’ll live a wide range of sights and little surprises. You see, you aren’t really just an observer. What you haven’t noticed is that you were being seen too, and from time-to-time even observed.


Saturday, 30 June 2018

The GSL-Visión Magazine no. 5 Editorial – The Pride Issue


The GSL-Visión Magazine no. 5
Editorial – The Pride Issue



Happy Pride!

A salutation I was greeted with, time and time again, as I walked through the streets during New York’s 2017 Gay Pride celebrations and researched this years' issue of the Visión magazine. I couldn't help but ponder the relevance of the festivities, and needless to say, I was inspired!

Sitges Gay Pride has become a considerable economic driver for the local economy, in addition to being a celebration; but its significance is very different from our Carnaval held in February and also very important for the LGBT+ community.

It’s about being Out and Proud of all that you are—being publically visible and most of all being yourself—unapologetically. Having Gay Pride is especially necessary if the society in which you live is conservative and unaccepting of different lifestyles.

When was the last time you actually felt proud to be part of a truly, accepting and resilient community?

Enjoy the Pride issue and again,
Happy Pride!




¡Feliz Orgullo!

De esta manera me saludaron una y otra vez mientras caminaba por las calles de Nueva York durante las celebraciones del Orgullo Gay en 2017, mientras investigaba para la edición de Visión Magazine de este año. No pude evitar pensar en la relevancia de estas festividades y, ni que decir tiene, ¡estaba inspirado!


Además de ser una celebración, el Sitges Gay Pride se ha convertido en un motor considerable para la economía local. Pero su significado es muy diferente al de nuestro Carnaval, que celebramos en febrero y que también es muy importante para la comunidad LGBT+.

Se trata de mostrarse y sentirse orgulloso de todo lo que eres: ser públicamente visible y, sobre todo, ser tú mismo sin disculparte por serlo. Celebrar el Orgullo Gay es especialmente necesario si la sociedad en la que vives es conservadora y no acepta estilos de vida diferentes.

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que realmente te sentiste orgulloso de formar parte de una comunidad verdaderamente receptiva y afectuosa?

Disfruta del Pride y nuevamente,

¡Feliz Orgullo!