- PLuRaL LGTBIQA+ Mancha Centro celebrates its 10th anniversary in Alcázar de San Juan with recognitions to six municipalities.
- The SAI LGTBI of Castilla-La Mancha has carried out more than 15,000 actions, and more than half correspond to people who do not live in the provincial capitals.
- Until October 25, the exhibition «10 years weaving networks» can be seen at the FORMMA Museum.
The SAI LGTBI of Castilla-La Mancha has more than 15,000 actions, and more than half correspond to people living outside the provincial capitals. This was explained by the Minister of Equality, Sara Simón, on Saturday, October 3, in Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real), at the tenth anniversary of PLuRaL LGTBIQA+ Mancha Centro.
What is the SAI LGTBI of Castilla-La Mancha?
The Comprehensive Attention Service (SAI) LGTBI is the resource of the Government of Castilla-La Mancha to assist LGTBI people, with in-person offices in each province. Since it opened, it has carried out more than 15,000 actions at the request of people who have asked for help.
The most striking fact is where those people live: more than half do not reside in a provincial capital. In other words, the need for LGTBI attention goes far beyond large cities.
Simón argued that setting up the service this way was a well-thought-out decision: «it was necessary for us to place those in-person offices in each of the provinces».
Ten years of PLuRaL: LGTBIQA+ activism in La Mancha
PLuRaL LGTBIQA+ Mancha Centro is an association in the region that has been active in LGTBI issues in rural areas for ten years. It celebrated with an event that brought together its president, Victoria Moreno; its founder and former president, Jesús Muñoz; the councilor for Equality and Diversity of Alcázar de San Juan, Patricia Benito; and the delegate for Equality of the Junta in Ciudad Real, Manoli Nieto.
The minister insisted that the LGTBI policies of the region are made together with the entities: «we walk hand in hand on this path», she said. She also recalled that the Regional LGTBI Council was established on June 10.
The six recognized municipalities
PLuRaL awarded recognitions for their commitment to LGTBI rights to six municipalities in the region:
- Alcázar de San Juan
- Campo de Criptana
- Herencia
- La Puebla de Almoradiel
- Santa María de los Llanos
- Villafranca de los Caballeros
The Ministry of Equality of the regional government also received a recognition.
«10 years weaving networks», the anniversary exhibition
The anniversary includes the exhibition «10 years weaving networks», at the FORMMA Museum in Alcázar de San Juan, open until October 25, 2026. It brings together posters, audiovisual material, and documents about rural LGTBI activism that the association has promoted during this decade.
It is a good way to see how a LGTBIQA+ support network has been built, little by little, in towns where it almost did not exist ten years ago.
Why the rural data matters
That more than half of the people assisted by the SAI LGTBI live outside the capitals confirms that rural Spain also needs LGTBI services close to home. For many people, having an in-person office in their province is the difference between asking for help or not asking for it.
At a time when LGBTphobic attacks are increasing, having public resources distributed throughout the territory is one of the most repeated demands by the community.
Frequently asked questions
How many actions has the SAI LGTBI of Castilla-La Mancha carried out?
More than 15,000 since it opened, according to the Minister of Equality, Sara Simón.
Where do the assisted people live?
More than half live outside the provincial capitals.
What is PLuRaL?
PLuRaL LGTBIQA+ Mancha Centro is an LGTBIQA+ association in the La Mancha region that will celebrate ten years in 2026.
Until when can the exhibition «10 years weaving networks» be seen?
Until October 25, 2026, at the FORMMA Museum in Alcázar de San Juan.
