Feb 27 • 13:31 UTC 🇪🇸 Spain El País

A Francoist punishment camp for gays in Fuerteventura, the first LGTBIQ+ memorial site in Spain

A former Francoist punishment camp for homosexuals in Fuerteventura has been declared Spain's first LGTBIQ+ memorial site, honoring the victims of repression under the dictatorship.

In a significant move towards acknowledging historical injustices, the Spanish Government has designated the former Agricultural Penal Colony of Tefía in Fuerteventura as a Place of Democratic Memory. This site, which functioned as a forced labor camp for homosexuals between 1954 and 1966, is recognized as the first LGTBIQ+ memorial in Spain. Around 100 individuals were imprisoned under atrocious conditions during this period, reflecting a harrowing chapter in the country's history.

The designation was celebrated in a ceremony that included the presentation of ten declarations of Recognition and Reparation to victims and notable figures from the LGTBIQ+ movement. This event marked a day of remembrance, recognition, and reparation for the injustices suffered by individuals due to their sexual orientation during the Franco regime. The acknowledgment of this site serves as a vital step in Spain's reconciliation with its past and highlights the ongoing struggle for equality and rights within the LGTBIQ+ community.

The recognition of the Tefía penal colony is not only a local matter but resonates with broader national and international themes around the rights of marginalized communities. By formally honoring the struggles faced by LGTBIQ+ individuals, Spain is also promoting a narrative of inclusion and social justice which can inspire similar movements in other countries, thereby providing a model for addressing historical grievances related to the persecution of sexual minorities.

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