Barça, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, organise a workshop at La Masia

Today Wednesday 17 May celebrates the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and FC Barcelona, as part of their commitment to fight against LGTBI discrimination in sport, organised a workshop for young sportspeople at La Masia by the 'Panteres Grogues' group. Joan Miró, president of the LGTBIQ+ multisport association which fights against homophobia in sport, and Martina de Popolo, a vocal activist from the organisation, took charge of the day's activity. 

The Auditorium at La Masia was the venue for the training session which forms part of the Continuing Education Class programme which groups together complementary training activities led by professional experts in various field and/or people with their experience bring value to the education of the young men and women. 

Around 50 young sportspeople from La Masia, together with Barça Genuine Foundation team who were also invited to the session, were able to learn about the discrimination suffered by the lesbian, gay, transexual and bisexual communities via a talk and subsequent workshop. Society witnesses violence and a lack of respect towards these communities simply due to their sexual orientation, something that is more prevalent than it may appear. 

The interactive workshop gave the young people the opportunity to witness first hand rejection and prejudice via physical, mental and psychological aggression towards these communities due to sexual identity, orientation or gender expression which remain present in current society and sport. 

Why is it celebrated on 17 May?

It was not until 1990 that the United Nations stopped considering homosexuality as a disease, on 17 May. To commemorate that day, 17 May was chosen as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

The first international day against homophobia was not held until 2005. Now it is normal for demonstrations to take place all over the world in support of equal right for the gay, transexual and bisexual communities. 

Sport as a tool for social normalization 

On 18 February 2022 FC Barcelona and the 'Panteres Grogues' group signed a collaborative agreement that establishes the basis of cooperation between the two organisations. In the case of the Club, this focussed on their interest in training and assessment in gender diversity, identity and sexual orientation as well as the battle against LGTBI phobia in the world of sports, as established in the Club's Statutes. 

Some of the activities that have been carried out as part of this collaboration are, for example, the talks on sport and LGTBI+ people held by Joan Miró, president of Panteres Grogues, at the Auditorium at La Masia. The objective of these talks, which took place as part of the European Month of Diversity in May 2022, was to offer an overall vision of these communities and to raise awareness the training staff in the handball, basketball, roller hockey and futsal team, as well as the educational team at La Masia. 

Another example is the sporting day celebrated in February as part of the International Day against LGTBI phobia in Sport which took place on the 19th. The Ciutat Esportiva was the venue for day of friendly games between the Agrupació Barça Jugadors and the veterans from the Club's basketball and handball teams against teams from Panteres Grogues.