Your guide to Barcelona's LGBT community - Gay & Lesbian Barcelona

Put it in your diary

If you're looking for a night out, Barcelona's gay scene has a host of regular events for all tastes and types. If you fancy learning to dance the tango in El Rouge on Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm, instructors Carmen María Hergos and Dafne Saldaña will teach from a gender-breaking perspective. Afterwards, the milonga (where people dance the tango) is open for whoever wants to try out their new moves. Organised by the Matinée group, every Saturday night the Girlicious party for women takes over Bloc club, while if you're in the mood for a lively Sunday evening, monthly parties La Ká (Sala Plataforma) and Churros con Chocolate (Apolo) will set you up for the week.

Lesbians out and proud

Irene Fernández

There's something about bars for the girls that often leads them to an untimely demise. So when one survives the passage of time, it is not only to be congratulated but celebrated as well. La Rosa is still the city's great lesbian club. But there are new alternatives carving out their niche, such as La Sue BCN, which is as welcoming a place for watching Barça as for curling up with a good book, or enjoying a bite to eat. And for fresh fruit cocktails, cabaret and dancing, the party for you is Tarantina – which this year has set up home in Aribau, 132 – every Saturday evening, from 11pm to 3am.

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Hot down below

Although apps like Grindr have stolen some of their clientele, cruising spots always have their draw. One of the city's most successful, Boyberry, has recently expanded its space with a basement of 200 square metres. It's reasonably priced, and there are special days where under-30s get in for free, or you can get the cover charge waived if you're packing more than 20 cm (7 in). The latter is the 20th of each month. There's a guy who has the pleasure of measuring those who think they qualify for free entry, and if you're among the gifted, you won't pay a cent. And you also get a wristband to wear so the whole place knows your shoe size.

Fighting homophobia

Barcelona is a city that breathes freedom. This is in part thanks to the many associations that, since the 1970s, have continued to fight for equal rights. And there is still much to do. Luckily, there are a number of organisations that devote a lot of time and effort to the cause. Currently, one of the most active groups is the collective Brot Bord (website in Catalan), a queer assembly that fights against patriarchy, homophobia and transphobia. They are quite active and tend to organise lectures, workshops and documentary screenings. They meet on Sunday afternoons at the Casal Independentista de Sants.

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On the road

Maria Dias

Around the world and back ... to the Raval. You might not know that the first lesbian bar in Barcelona (La Sal) was on C/Riereta. The Raval and has long been a meeting place for the most alternative gays, thanks to bars like La Penúltima. But if there is one street in the Raval that is becoming more and more popular, especially among the girls, it's C/de Carretes, home to spaces including La Casa de la Pradera. If you're hungry, stop by Las Fernández first.

The new bear circuit

In the past few years C/Casanova has become the epicentre of Barcelona's bear community. One of the most favourite lairs for the city's bears and chasers is the Bacon Bear Bar. On Thursdays, they put on a spread of snacks, making it a great time to move among and admire the crowd of hairy men, their bellies full and content. Once a month it's the triumph of the Bear Sex Party in the Open Mind sex club where everyone gets right to the point and hair is synonymous with happiness.

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A cut above

In many of the world's big cities it is increasingly common to see men-only aesthetic centres where you can even get anal and genital bleaching. As far as we know, the bleaching hasn't really become fashionable here yet, and salons for gay men to pamper themselves are engaged in more mundane activities, such as haircuts. You'll be treated very well in the Gaixample in salons such as Paparazzi or Tön Vangard, but if you head to the Raval you can also find modern hairstylists that come highly recommended and have first-rate service, like Pódame.

A community link

For many gays, lesbians and transsexuals, getting older means climbing back into the closet. Those with no children are often left on their own. The Fundació Enllaç ('The Link Foundation') is here to help. The organisation aims to protect the welfare of LGBT people who live in situations of vulnerability and dependence. The association has a multi-purpose room where they put on film screenings, host lectures and activities such as tai-chi, provide space for the Coral de les Panteres Grogues ('Yellow Panthers Choir'), and hold workshops to promote emotional and spiritual wellness.

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Trans visibility

Transsexuals have always been the most stigmatized group within the LGBT community. Fortunately, a new generation of transgender people are doing a lot to promote awareness. In Barcelona this is thanks to initiatives such as the Espai Obert Trans-Interse (website in Spanish and Catalan), a group that meets once a month at the Casal Lambda, and Cultura Trans (website in Spanish), a project to promote visibility and new models when it comes to the trans question.

International briefs

One of the newest shops in the Gaixample is brought to you by the clothing brand ES Collection, which has undergone a real facelift. This brand that specialises in swimwear and underwear was born in 2006 out of the initiative taken by a textile company based in Poblenou. They were the first to incorporate 'pack up' in their pieces, which is a foam insert to boost the appearance of your package. Thanks to this invention and their ad campaigns featuring smooth-skinned, muscular men with piercing eyes, they're doing very well indeed and now boast more than 300 outlets worldwide.