On October 18, the streets of Spain will be filled with hope and determination with the celebration of the fourth Positive March. This event, crucial in the battle against the stigma associated with HIV, will bring together social organizations, institutional representatives and civil society in a joint effort to claim the dignity and visibility of the more than 150,000 people living with HIV in our country.
The march, which will depart from the Ministry of Health at 12:30 p.m., will culminate at the iconic Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. There, the reader will be able to be part of the reading of the manifesto, enjoy moving performances and witness an act of visibility carried out by people with HIV, including the protagonists of the recent communication campaigns of Positive Pride of Cesida, the state HIV and AIDS Coordinator.”
In the face of stigma, we are the answer”: A Motto that Drives Change
Under the powerful motto «In the face of stigma, we are the answer», Positive Pride rises with renewed strength, with the ambition of surpassing the 5,000 attendees of the previous edition. This march is not just an isolated event, but one of the key events in an October full of cultural and protest activities. Among them, the first edition of the Jancho Barrios Awards stands out, an emotional tribute to the legacy of Juan Ramón Barrios Llanos, known as “Jancho”, an essential figure in community activism against HIV. The delivery gala, which promises to be a memorable event, will be held on October 16 at the Palacio de la Prensa in Madrid, hosted by the talented Abi Power and Samantha Hudson.
Since its birth in 2022, the Positive March has established itself as an unmissable annual event for all those who address the reality of HIV in Spain. Its constant growth in support and participation, with an increasing number of people committed, reflects the impact and importance of this mobilization in the tireless fight for dignity and human rights.
A United Front: Civil Society and Institutional Support
The diversity of the march will be manifested in its banners. The header, with the motto “In the face of stigma, we are the answer”, will be carried by people with HIV, members of Cesida entities and invited people. It will be followed by the institutional banner, with the message “I=I, no excuses for discrimination”, which will bring together representatives of administrations, political parties, unions and organizations of other social movements. A second block will be made up of the CESIDA groups “Mujeres HIVvas” and “Generación Positiva”, followed by the coordinator’s organizations, grouped by autonomous communities, evidencing the state nature of this important mobilization.
Institutional participation will be highlighted, with the presence of the Minister of Health, Mónica García, along with representatives of the Ministry of Equality, political parties and union organizations. In addition, a large number of public figures have shown their support for Positive Pride, calling for participation through videos broadcast on Cesida’s social networks. Among them, names such as Mónica García, Reyes Maroto, Mónica Oltra, Irene Montero, Carla Antonelli or Juan Fernando López Aguilar stand out.
Beyond HIV: A Fight for Everyone’s Dignity
Cesida emphasizes that this march is not exclusive for those living with HIV, but for anyone who defends that stigma must disappear. Toni Poveda, director of the entity, expresses it clearly: “we want to get out of the closet the stigma and discrimination and all those situations that cause there to be people who still, and in a very justified way, do not want to be visible. We want to vindicate the dignity of people with HIV.”
The relevance of this mobilization became even more evident the previous week, when an informative campaign by Cesida was censored for showing a person with HIV in a swimsuit in the Madrid Metro. The image of Oliver Marcos, General Secretary of Cesida, had to be replaced due to the advertising space provider’s refusal to broadcast the original. This situation, which generated a great wave of solidarity and support on social networks, underlines the urgent need to continue mobilizing for the dignity and visibility of the more than 150,000 people with HIV in Spain.
What role can we each play in eradicating stigma and discrimination? How can we contribute to building a more inclusive and respectful society for all?
