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Diario Euskadi

Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council Remains Divided on International Day Against LGTBI-Phobia

Municipal groups submit two separate declarations for May 17, highlighting ongoing disagreement over the use of the LGTBIQ+ acronym.

A microphone on a podium in a municipal council chamber, representing a political debate.
IA

A microphone on a podium in a municipal council chamber, representing a political debate.

The Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council is once again divided on the International Day Against LGTBI-Phobia, with municipal groups presenting two distinct declarations for May 17, revealing an ongoing debate about terminology.

The Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council has failed to reach a unified declaration for the International Day Against LGTBI-Phobia, due to disagreements among political groups. PSE-EE, EAJ-PNV, and PP have signed a declaration using the acronym LGTBI, while EH Bildu and Elkarrekin Podemos have submitted an alternative text that maintains the LGTBIQ+ formula.
This debate, which began last year regarding the use of the LGTBIQ+ formula, remains unresolved. In June 2025, on the occasion of Pride Day, the council also failed to achieve a single declaration due to the same issue.
The main change lies in the stance of Berdindu, the Basque Government's information and support service for sexual and gender diversity. Last year, Berdindu's text included the LGTBIQ+ formula, supported by EH Bildu, Elkarrekin Podemos, and EAJ-PNV in the city council. Conversely, PSE-EE and PP then approved another institutional declaration without the Q or the + sign.
This year, Berdindu's declaration for May 17 uses LGTBI, and has been signed by PSE-EE, EAJ-PNV, and PP. EH Bildu and Elkarrekin Podemos have opted for an alternative declaration to maintain the LGTBIQ+ formula. This has led to a new cross-section of support surrounding acronyms that already sparked debate in 2025.
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"The letter Q usually refers to queer people or those who question traditional categories of gender or sexual orientation. The + sign encompasses other identities not explicitly included in the main acronyms."

a spokesperson for the municipal groups
Both texts recall that on May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. Since 2005, this date has been commemorated as the International Day Against LGTBI-Phobia. Both declarations note that in recent decades there have been legal and social advances, with greater protection and recognition for sexual and gender diversity.
They also cite the latest Ikuspegi survey on perceptions and attitudes towards discrimination in Euskadi. According to this study, 77.8% of Basque citizens state that they prefer to live in a diverse society. However, the texts warn that discrimination remains present. In Euskadi, nearly 15% of the population claims to have experienced some form of discrimination in the last year, and more than 76% of these situations go unreported.
The declarations specifically mention the situation of trans, lesbian, elderly, racialized, or disabled individuals. They also point to the impact of hate speech and assaults in public spaces. The signatory groups assert that these rights are part of human rights and demand safe and respectful environments.

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