Yaiza is dressed in pink these days, dressed in equality, dressed in tolerance and respect, and it does so with joy, enthusiasm and great illusion. It is a reason for personal satisfaction for me to be able to contribute to making my municipality much more open and to be at this moment the epicenter of debates, ideas and proposals aimed at creating a much fairer, more supportive society, a society without prejudice.
YAIZA SIMPLY LOVE is a festival that was born in the year of the pandemic, and that could not be celebrated for that same reason, but this year, although in a restricted way, we are discovering the potential of the LGTBI+ movement, a potential that tries to implant the idea that we are not only an open and welcoming town, but that we are a friendly, respectful and tolerant destination so that our visitors when they come feel completely free.
The festival aims to show the best image that Lanzarote can present and that is to value its people who have always stood out for the values that we promote from the festival.
We wanted to implant that halo of welcoming familiarity that we dispense in Lanzarote, and try to impregnate in each and every one of the actions, acts and cultural events that we are developing on the occasion of YAIZA SIMPLY LOVE.
It is a moment in which we are risking the economy, employment, and economic activity, so culture can be a great attraction to try to hook, after the pandemic, a tourism that we must begin to look at with full attention and that, in addition, is of high purchasing value. Therefore, the YAIZA SIMPLY LOVE festival demonstrates its duality by being, or at least pretending to be, a festival linked to changing consciences and cultivating open minds, but also showing ourselves to the world as an open, plural and tolerant destination for any gender or sexual orientation.
And most importantly, this festival is a pedagogical work where the referents of this matter are promoting reflection and critical thinking among the youngest, who are discovering in the debate tables the importance of feeling free and without fear as well as the best path towards that freedom. Our idea is to avoid social rejection at an early age, thus avoiding the appearance of harassment, bullying and other humiliating actions for the mere fact of feeling or feeling different.
*Daniel Medina, Councilor for Equality of the Yaiza City Council.
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