The gay bar in Lloret de Mar that defied Francoism

GironaThe arrival of tourism to the Costa Brava in the 1950s and 1960s marked a radical change in lifestyles. In Lloret de Mar, where hotels replaced the large Indiano houses, the first gay bars appeared in the early 1960s, thus becoming pioneers in LGBTQ+ leisure on the Costa Brava. As Xavier Orri, secretary of Plurales, the LGBTQ+ Association of Lloret de Mar and employee of the Lloret de Mar Municipal Archive Service, who has conducted extensive research on the subject, recalls, tourism brought about a "significant change in the mentality of the population of Lloret de Mar, who quickly adapted to new social trends and knew how to maintain an attitude of respect and distance from the Catholic morality imposed by the Franco dictatorship."

This is how, without being fully aware of it, Lloret de Mar already had its first local bar route by the end of the 1960s. gay-friendly throughout the Costa Brava. Pioneers in LGBTQ+ leisure, they laid the foundations for a branch of nightlife that continues to generate significant economic benefits. Orri recalls that the first establishment, opened between 1963 and 1965, was Bar Martin, on Calle Santa Cristina. It was run by Fernando del Valle, known as Fernandito, who in the summers did imitations in "rigorous" playbackAnd in winter, he worked with a mobile kitchen, cooking for bricklayers and laborers in the housing estates that housed the first villas and towers for vacationers.

Landmarks from Barcelona to the border

Franco's death opened the door to a period of greater freedom. After years of traveling around Europe, businessman Josep Valls i Puigvert returned home, where he promoted the opening of a network of LGBTQ+-friendly venues and guesthouses: Tortuga, Bar David, Incógnito, and Bubú. A network he would manage for more than thirty years and which would turn Lloret de Mar into a benchmark space for the gay community on the Costa Brava, also following his decision to advertise them in the Spartacus International Guide, which placed the town alongside Barcelona, ​​​​Madrid, Sitges, and Torremolinos.

Orri explains that La Tortuga was named after the boat owned by Valls's uncles and that it was in this space that, shortly after its inauguration, a tribute party was held for Fernandito, where he imitated Sara Montiel. "At that time, La Tortuga was the only gay bar from Barcelona to the border, so it attracted national and foreign customers and became one of the busiest venues in the area," he adds.

To vindicate this legacy, the first Pride Costa Brava was born in 2022, with an extensive festive program, also taking into account family diversity. This year, the Barcelona duo Ladilla Russa headlines on July 5th, starting at 9:30 p.m. in the Plaça del Teatre de Lloret. However, the day before, at the Espai Fermí Reixach, the Family Diversity Festival is also being organized at 7 p.m., with a contact queer The second Miss Travesti Costa Brava gala will be held at 9 p.m. by Faraonix King. The kick-off will be this Friday, June 27, starting at 10 p.m. at Disco Gotham with an opening speech by the event's organizers and officials, followed by performances by local drag queens Joanne and La Acrílica, and a DJ set by Patatas Bravas.