Torremolinos, a city known for its history of openness and its diverse community, is experiencing tense days. In less than 24 hours, three people from the LGTBIQ+ group have reported homophobic attacks that occurred in the La Nogalera neighborhood, an emblematic area of the queer environment on the Costa del Sol.
On Saturday night, José Manuel, a visitor from Granada, was the victim of threats and insults while walking to his hotel along Pasaje Begoña. “We’re going to kill you, you fucking faggot, get out of here,” he reported hearing from a group of young people who, according to his testimony, had already had a violent attitude the night before.
This episode adds to the beating suffered by two young people shouting “Faggots!”, a few meters away and a few hours before. In both cases, the National Police has opened an investigation.
The fear that does not paralyze
José Manuel did not remain silent. Although at first he minimized the verbal aggression, upon learning of the previous events and experiencing a direct threat, he decided to go to the police station. “I’m not going to accept it. I see that there are many people scared, but I’m not going to keep quiet,” he said. His statement highlights a reality: fear is still present, but more and more people decide to face it bravely.
A city on alert
The institutional response did not take long. The mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, publicly condemned the attacks and reaffirmed the City Council’s commitment to freedom and diversity: “Torremolinos is a land of freedom, no matter who it is.” In addition, he announced new coordination measures with the security forces and called an emergency meeting to reinforce surveillance in the areas most frequented by the group.
Pride and collective response
In the same vein, local LGTBIQ+ associations organized an urgent rally in the Plaza de La Nogalera. Under the motto “Bring your pride. Let’s not stay silent”, the meeting brought together dozens of people with whistles, banners and a clear message: no setback in our rights.
For a Torremolinos free of hate.
A specific threat or a symptom of something bigger?
Although authorities insist that these are isolated events, there are questions that remain in the air. Is homophobic violence resurfacing in spaces previously considered safe? Is the institutional response to these attacks sufficient? Some voices within the group itself are skeptical. They point out that, beyond statements and promises, the true solution lies in active surveillance, education in diversity and a real commitment on the part of the entire society.
