The situation of the LGTBI community in Catalonia varies considerably between the Barcelona metropolitan area and the rest of the region, made up of smaller towns and villages. The LGTB association TALCOMSOM, set up in 2008, works closely with local councils in central Catalonia, making policy proposals that foster equality with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. Such proposals are implemented at municipal level, in accordance with the measures that the Catalan Parliament’s law No 11/2014 to combat LGTBI-phobia stipulates should be carried out by local authorities.
The Oasis initiative, coordinated by the Candela Association along with other LGBT independent professionals working in schools, works towards this same goal and aims to serve as a tool for promoting the empowerment of LGBT teenagers. This pioneer project, carried out in Barcelona, offers summer camps to adolescents who suffer homophobic bullying at school. The response from young people, families, as well as associations and public authorities has been very positive and the results are very encouraging for those teenagers who have attended.
