ForateMito’s, Rosse, Boys, La Naya, Enigma, Missing, Horus, Jardineto, Or i Ferro, Divina and Canibal are among the pioneering spaces that marked Alicante as a meeting point in the 1980s for diverse LGTBIQ generations. In the community, activism began taking shape in the late 1970s when Valencia’s Front d’Alliberament (FAHPV) led the fight against sexual literacy. In the early 1980s, MAS-PV extended its reach to Alicante, organizing talks, exhibitions, dances, screenings in Astoria Cinemas, and the regular publication of a simple magazine titled Gay Papers. This history remains a guide to the city, a trail that slowly unfolds through an exhibit on LGTBIQ memory in Alicante at the University Museum to reveal the long struggle for rights and freedoms throughout the 20th century, now made visible for a broader audience. (Source: Democracy Archive)
Funds from the Democracy Archive underwrite this exhibition, produced in collaboration with the university and the vice presidency focused on Equality, Inclusion and Social Responsibility. The project includes a thematic portal on the organization’s site to help build a new reality within the archive and democratic memory, aiming to safeguard collective memory from marginalization. (Source: Democracy Archive)
Exhibition comprises 15 panels that trace the history of this movement from the dictatorship era to the present, with special emphasis on the Valencian Community and Alicante. (Source: Democracy Archive)
Toni Forat Fund
A central piece of this collection comes from a local pioneer, Toni Forat. He opened the first bar in his neighborhood at 74 and was among the first openly out men in Alicante, at a time when the country was under dictatorship. The activist offered to transfer his collection to the Democracy Archive, a gesture that helped establish the LGTBIQ section of the archive, alongside this exhibition curated by Llum Quiñero. (Source: Democracy Archive)
The material traveled from Ibiza, where it had been categorized and prepared for shipment to Alicante. A working commission formed with UA staff to organize the files, and from there the project grew. Beatriz Bustos, director of the Democracy Archive, recalls the moment when the process began. (Source: Democracy Archive)
Word of mouth brought in more photographs and testimonies, including María Sarmiento, president of Dolores Entiende wave, and individuals such as Roberto, known as Robertina, or Carlos Lam from Alicante, whose stories helped shape the collection. (Source: Democracy Archive)
Relational Movement
Since the eighties, Alicante faced a growing relational gap that persisted until 1993. Col lectiu Lambda Alacant emerged as a key pillar in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the rights of same‑sex couples. Their activities included distributing sexual protection materials and hosting social events on Saturday nights, expanding to tourist seasons in the summer. The group was recognized by the Generalitat to carry out a mission that raised awareness and provided services for the community. The AIDS campaign in Alicante found a new momentum through these efforts. (Source: Democracy Archive)
The movement evolved in 1995, and the Alicante Gay and Lesbian Community continued to operate as activists, spreading their messages through new channels and cultural moments. A rising role emerged for artists who documented and popularized queer life in Alicante, forming an ongoing network that carried forward the baton of visibility. Magazines with maps documented bars and venues, becoming practical guides for leisure and freedom routes. (Source: Democracy Archive)
The LGTBIQ memory exhibition in Alicante remains open until 21 July, placing Alicante within a broader panorama that includes developments in other countries and Spain since the 1960s. The exhibit features a chronological axis, a glossary, and a world map of homophobia, underscoring how progress happened in the face of pressure and resistance. A director of the Democracy Archive notes that the country stood among the early pioneers and that despite intense pressure, significant progress has been achieved. (Source: Democracy Archive)