LGBT Victims of Franco Demand Recognition

On Thursday 4 September, a group of Spanish LGBT associations, the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales, (FELGTB: National LGBT Federation), requested compensations from the government for the members of the LGBT community who were arrested under the Franco dictatorship because of their sexual orientation. They also demanded that mention be made in the controversial and as yet unfinished law on historical memory of the "repression, torture, imprisonment and exil inflicted to LGBT people by the Franco government" and that the circumstances of the persecution be properly investigated.

Two laws served to justify the actions against the LGBT community: one against "vagrants and criminals", the other about "reabilitation and social danger".

An estimated 4000 LGBT people fell victim to the authorities, about 100 of which are still alive and have been campaigning for 30 years for the recognition of their plight and rights. In December 2006, the government, which introduced same-sex marriage in 2005 in the face of fierce Catholic opposition, had made positive noises in support of compensations but things seems to have gone by the wayside and survivors are still waiting.

Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales (spanish)
FELGTB press release (spanish)
Gay victims of Franco era to win compensation, The Independent, 28 December 2006