IU Tres Cantos commemorates the 21st anniversary of Spain's first equal marriage, officiated in 2005 by then-councillor José Luis Martínez Cestao, and champions it as a symbol against current hate speech.
The local group of Izquierda Unida in Tres Cantos wanted to remember this Friday the 21st anniversary of the first equal marriage celebrated in Spain, a union officiated by the then-councillor of the party, José Luis Martínez Cestao, on July 11, 2005. The anniversary, which the party commemorates every year, takes on special significance in a context they consider to be one of "threats to social rights."
That wedding united Emilio Menéndez and Carlos Baturín, a couple who had spent over three decades of hidden love during the dictatorship and who did not fully come to light during the Transition. The event, held at the Town Hall of Tres Cantos, became a historic milestone that preceded the approval of the same-sex marriage law in Spain just a few days later.
A symbol that remains relevant
In a statement released by the local assembly of IU, the words of Martínez Cestao during that ceremony are recalled, in which he asserted that it was not merely an administrative procedure, but "a firm step to put an end to a series of injustices." The councillor then described Tres Cantos as an "example of equality" on an international level.
Twenty-one years later, the party emphasizes that remembering this anniversary "is not just a look back at the past, but a tool for the future." In a context of "hate speech and setbacks in social rights," as stated by Martínez Cestao himself, the commemoration takes on a reivindicative and educational value for new generations.
Commitment to diversity
IU Tres Cantos has reaffirmed its commitment to "the diverse, tolerant, and avant-garde Tres Cantos that was born on that July 11, 2005." The party believes that the legacy of that first equal union should serve as a foundation for continuing to advance in LGTBI+ policies and against discrimination.
For the residents of Tres Cantos, the anniversary serves as a reminder that their municipality was a pioneer in the conquest of civil rights in Spain. "Here it was demonstrated that love and equality could be formalized before anywhere else," comments a spokesperson for the local assembly. The Town Hall, for its part, has not scheduled any official events this year, but IU hopes that the date will continue to be remembered as a local and national milestone.
The wedding of Emilio and Carlos, which then made headlines in international media, remains a reference for the LGTBI+ community in the Community of Madrid. "It was a day of joy and also of fear, because we didn’t know what the reaction would be," the couple recalled a few years ago in an interview. "But everything went well, and we opened a path that many others have followed since."
IU Tres Cantos encourages citizens to reflect on the progress made and not to take for granted rights that took decades of struggle to achieve. "Historical memory is also this: remembering where we come from to know where we are going," concludes the statement.
