In a landmark move for visibility and inclusion, Spanish sport institutions joined the State LGBTI+ Pride March for the first time — in partnership with Compete Proud.
On 5 July 2025, Madrid’s streets were filled with colour, protest, and celebration — but also, for the first time ever, with the visible presence of Spain’s top sport institutions. Spanish sport authorities, led by the High Council for Sport (CSD), officially joined the State LGBTI+ Pride March, standing at the forefront of the parade behind a powerful banner: “Sport with Pride”. This historic moment was made possible through a partnership with Compete Proud, a global initiative that champions LGBTIQ+ visibility, safety, and representation in sport.
This unprecedented move reflects a deeper, long-overdue shift in the Spanish sports landscape: one that acknowledges and embraces the diverse identities of those who make up its community — from grassroots to elite.
A landmark week for Spanish sport and LGBTI+ visibility
The milestone was not a one-day event, but the result of coordinated efforts and growing momentum for change. It began with an institutional reception on Monday 30 June, hosted at the CSD headquarters in Madrid and co-organised with Compete Proud. The event brought together LGBTIQ+ athletes, coaches, allies and federation representatives — including Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazers who are paving the way for more inclusive sport environments.
CSD President José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes welcomed attendees with a strong institutional message:
“Sport must be a space of freedom, respect and pride for everyone — without exception.”
The Compete Proud team, composed of athletes, DEI professionals and campaigners, facilitated the dialogue and highlighted the importance of bridging lived experience with policy and systemic action.
This reception served not only as a symbolic gesture but as a necessary space to reflect on the realities that LGBTI+ people in sport face — and the collective responsibility to create better conditions for them.
