Vice President Augusto Hidalgo and Councillor Carlos Álamo have today presented, together with other authorities, the contents of an event that will bring together several events in the capital of Gran Canaria these days to visualise the demands of the LGTBIQ+ movement.
The performances of the artists Mika and Keane, together with the presentation of the Alan Turing LGTBIQ+ awards, are the highlights of the extensive programme of events that will bring to the island renowned activists of the movement such as Paco León, Bibiana Fernández or Samantha Hudson
The Cabildo, through the First Vice-Presidency, headed by Augusto Hidalgo, and the Department of Tourism, headed by Carlos Álamo, are promoting the celebration on the island of Culture & Business Pride 2024, a festival that reaffirms that diversity is a universal language that transcends ideologies and borders. This inclusive space brings together representatives of all political parties in a shared objective: to consolidate the Canary Islands as a beacon of civil rights, diversity and inclusion recognized globally. A proposal supported by different institutions on the islands, which each edition highlights the need for institutional support for diversity.
The festival was presented this afternoon at the Hotel Cristina by Tigotán in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, an event supported by the First Vice-Presidency of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Promotur, Turismo de Islas Canarias, Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Department of Equality and Diversity of the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The event was also attended by the American artists Alyssa Edwards and Violet Chachkio Gottmik, who are participating in this edition and have been awarded an Alan TuringLGTBIQ+ Award.
The Vice President of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure, Architecture and Housing, Augusto Hidalgo Macario, has expressed his total commitment to defending the diversity and inclusion of these groups, and has highlighted the importance of actions such as the Culture & Business Pride to make it visible. “Gran Canaria as a whole, but especially its capital, has always been an example of the defence of diversity, a reference for all groups of the LGTBIQ+ movement who see here a space of freedom, inclusion and, of course, fun,” said Hidalgo, “that is why this island is the natural space for the celebration of events of this type that, in addition, will serve to reaffirm at an international level the role of Gran Canaria as a world reference for the LGTBIQ+ movement for the celebration but also as a vindication of values as important as equality, respect and freedom”.
The Councillor for the Tourism Area of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo Cabrera, also spoke, highlighting the historical tradition of the LGTBIQ+ client on the islands. “The Culture & Business Pride 2024 is an event that has the support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and has a very varied and interesting programme, which stands out for its leisure and cultural proposal with concerts and also a conference programme that we consider very powerful but which also has a very powerful section for the business world that we especially value. For Turismo de Gran Canaria and for the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, consolidating our destination, not only as an idyllic space for holiday leisure, a place with an offer of sun and beach without comparison in Europe, is important. Gran Canaria, as I was saying, has made a lot of progress in recent years in the MICE segment and we also want to position ourselves as a destination that attracts business initiatives, in addition to LGTBIQ+ thinking, visibility and business.”
In addition to the representatives of the Cabildo, the Councillor for Tourism of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jessica de León Verdugo, and the Councillor for Security, Equality and Affective-sexual Diversity of the Tenerife City Council, Gladys de León, also participated in this presentation.
A Project Proudly "Made in the Canary Islands"
The Canary Islands are consolidating their position as the epicentre of diversity and civil rights with the Visibilidrag event, part of Culture & Business Pride 2024. This event, officially presented as a "beacon of civil rights and diversity in the Canary Islands", reaffirms its impact not only as a festival, but as a transformative platform with international reach.
With more than 90.000 attendees since its creation in 2017 and an economic impact of more than 18.000.000 euros for the islands' tourism brand, Culture & Business Pride continues to be a global benchmark in the promotion of LGTBIQ+ values.
Continuing with the programme, the Chill Conferences, which will take place from 3 to 6 December at the Hotel Cristina by Tigotán in Las Palmas, will be the reflective heart of the festival. Moderated by the iconic Samantha Hudson, these talks will bring together personalities such as Paco León, Bibiana Fernández, Cayetana Guillén Cuervo, Violet Chachki and Gottmik, the director of Turespaña, Miguel Sanz.
Highlights include the sessions "The Age of Connection", on communication in digital times with the journalist and writer Javier Cid, alongside influencers Ger and Marc Biarnés, or "Visibilidrag", which will explore drag as art, resistance and a driving force for social change, with international figures such as Alyssa Edwards, alongside national figures such as DragSethlas and Drag Chuchi. Crucial issues such as human rights, inclusive tourism and the role of social media in the visibility of the collective will also be addressed.
Concerts for Equal Human Rights: Music as a message
Music will be the vehicle to amplify the message of equality and diversity. Santa Cruz de Tenerife (6 December, Palmetum) and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (7 December, Infecar) will host the Concerts for Equal Human Rights, headed by artists such as Keane, who is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his iconic album Hopes and Fears, and the inimitable Mika, a global symbol of authenticity and freedom, both with exclusive concerts in Spain, alongside Belén Aguilera and Samantha Hudson. The events will culminate with La Mariparty, an explosion of creativity and vindication led by drag artists such as Dita Dubois, Gottmik, Alyssa Edwards, Violet Chachki and Exuberancia Carey.
Culture & Business Pride 2024 reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and inclusion, thanks to the support of the First Vice-Presidency of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Turismo de Gran Canaria, Promotur – Turismo de Islas Canarias, and the Equality Department of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council. A festival that positions itself as a benchmark in the fight for equality and diversity, highlighting Spain's role as the global epicentre of LGTBIQ+ activism.
Alan Turing LGTBIQ+ Awards: Global recognition from Gran Canaria
On December 5, the Gabinete Literario in Las Palmas will be the setting for the Alan Turing LGTBIQ+ Awards, which this year recognize the Ministry of Equality for its historic work in defending LGTBIQ+ rights. Other winners include figures such as Gillian Anderson, Ptazeta, Pepe Dámaso, Enrique Alex, and the NGO Rescate. The gala will be hosted by Cayetana Guillén Cuervo and Samantha Hudson, in an exclusive format with a set design by digital artist José García Vallés.
