Since August 1, Ciudad Real has had a Comprehensive Care Service (SAI) for LGTBIQ+ people that offers guidance, legal advice, psychological support and social support, among other essential resources. It’s free, public and already working.
At the moment, the service is provided at the SESCAM Provincial Services (10 Alarcos Street), although it will soon move to the future Administrative City.
Not only do we attend to individual queries, we also provide support to LGTBIQ+ groups, third sector entities and professionals. Because yes, when it comes to rights, the collective also matters.
Why now?
The provincial delegate for Equality, Manoli Nieto-Márquez, has explained that this new SAI responds to a clear need: to prevent attention to diversity depending on geography. Until now, the service was centralized in Toledo, which made access difficult for many people, especially in rural areas.
With this new headquarters, the Board seeks to guarantee closer, coordinated and quality care. In addition, it recognizes something important: demand is increasing, and that requires more robust responses.
What does this service offer?
The UPS is not just a place to ask for help. It is a support network that covers different areas:
- Psychosocial care and psychological support
- Legal advice and legal guidance
- Educational and employment support
- Training and guidance for entities and professionals
Service is provided from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Appointments can also be requested in the afternoon or through digital media, writing to sailgtb@jccm.es or calling 925 278 377.
And yes, although it may seem obvious, it is important to say: this service is also designed for families, friends and close networks that accompany LGTBIQ+ people.
When equality does not depend on the zip code
Nieto-Márquez said it loud and clear: “Attention to LGTBI people cannot depend on the zip code”. A simple, but powerful phrase.
The decentralization of the service not only improves access. It also allows us to build a solid network with groups, associations and professionals who have been working in the field for some time. In Ciudad Real, the Government has recognized the essential role of entities such as:
- Plural LGTBI Mancha Center
- LGTBI+ protection of Miguelturra
- LGTBIQ+ Diverse Space
- PRIDE LGTBI Castilla-La Mancha
- ADISE from Argamasilla de Alba
- LGTBIQ+ AIR by Tomelloso
Without these alliances, advancing diversity and equality would be much more difficult.
And what does the law say?
This service is part of the institutional commitment to the Law on Sexual Diversity and LGTBI Rights of Castilla-La Mancha. A regulation that, although current, does not have the same political support today as when it was approved.
The provincial delegate has recognized that this law includes historical demands from the community, but has also warned about the risk of setbacks. Vox has publicly announced its intention to repeal it if it had the opportunity. A reminder that rights, once conquered, must continue to be defended.
From 2023 to June 2025, the entire LGTBI SAI of Castilla-La Mancha has offered more than 3,000 informative services and more than 5,300 specialized interventions in the psychological, social and legal areas. Currently, there are 336 people with an open file, of which 36 live in Ciudad Real.
The team behind this work is made up of 10 professionals: three psychologists, a legal advisor and six social workers. A joint team that puts a face to a service that should not fail anyone.
So… is it enough?
The opening of the LGTBI SAI in Ciudad Real is undoubtedly good news. It’s one more step, yes. But as with many social advances, it is also an opportunity to ask questions: does it reach the entire population that needs it? Is there enough staff to respond to demand? How is its continuity ensured in the face of possible political changes?
There are no easy answers. But there is one certainty: comprehensive care for LGTBIQ+ people is not an extra. It is a right. And the closer it is, the better.
