L’Horgull warns of verbal attacks after launching its campaign against discrimination in sport
The L’Horgull association, an entity in defense of LGTBIQ+ rights in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, has reported two LGTBIQ+phobic incidents that occurred last weekend at different sporting events in the city.
The events occurred a few days after the launch of a new campaign promoted by the entity to “give a red card” to attacks and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the sports field.
Rainbow bracelets and rejection in the stands
As part of the campaign, several captains of local clubs wore armbands with the colors of the LGTBIQ+ flag during their matches. The gesture sought to make visible the commitment of local sports to diversity and respect.
However, the initiative was not well received by some attendees.
In the municipal field of La Torrassa, the intervention of the Mossos d’Esquadra was necessary after a verbal attack linked to the placement of a protest banner. According to the president of L’Horgull, Xavier Mombiela, the situation is “unacceptable” and confirms the need to continue working on the cultural transformation of sport.
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The entity has announced that it is holding talks with the City Council to analyze what happened and evaluate possible measures.
Insults at another sports venue
In another sports facility in the city, LGTBIQ+phobic insults were also recorded at the entrance to the venue, in the context of an argument between part of the public when they detected that one of the captains was wearing the rainbow armband.
For Mombiela, these episodes show that pedagogy cannot be limited to specific actions: “The bracelet is not just a symbol, it is a commitment,”he noted.
The reflection that it leaves on the table is clear: are symbolic gestures enough if they are not accompanied by sustained work over time?
Transform sports culture
Despite the incidents, L’Horgull has thanked the L’Hospitalet sports clubs for their involvement in the campaign. The association considers that local sport is a key element in transforming mentalities and generating safe spaces for the LGTBIQ+ community.
The objective now is to expand the initiative and involve more sports entities in future actions.
The association has also explained that in the end it has not worked in a coordinated manner with the City Council, which has developed its own institutional campaign in parallel.
Beyond the symbol
What happened in L’Hospitalet once again puts the focus on a debate that is still valid: LGTBIQ+phobia in sport is not an isolated or residual phenomenon.
Sport continues to be one of the spaces where the most cultural resistance persists in the face of diversity.
The question is uncomfortable, but necessary: are we prepared so that the commitment to equality is real and not just decorative?
Because giving a red card to hate means more than just wearing a bracelet. It involves changing the rules of the game.
