May Edition 13.5 - Proud Beginnings

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May 2013 Gran Canaria

More than just an old Movie set

shows

Where you are the guest star

daily

A unique experience filled with adventure

SINCE 1971

live

+Marie Plosjö - Nordisk sektion! All English Event

BUSINESS WEEK 2014 Internet Marketing

PROUD BEGINNINGS An Event Gran Canaria Can Feel Pride Calling its own

Conference

Maspalomas-Las Palmas January 2-7, 2014

Come on, you whiny buggers, it's no good sitting around and waiting for me to sort it out for you, I'm bloody well 82. Get off your lazy arses and do something constructive, for once, to help your community and this island. Stop squabbling about the past and start creating the future or you'll miss out. If I can still keep it together, well, so can you! What we need is strong leadership and a can-do attitude

www.gcbusinessweek.com

The Sign of

Experience! 3

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Dario Jaén Rivero, one of the visionaries behind Maspalomas Gay PRIDE

In just 12 short years, what began in Playa del Inglés as an exercise to promote unity, equality, acceptance and tourism for the burgeoning Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in the South of Gran Canaria, has grown in to the single largest and most prestigious internationally acclaimed celebration of diversity and unity in The Canary Islands, and is recognised as one of the most important of its type in Europe. Initially led by the prophetic vision of community activist, diversity and tourism campaigner, Dario Jaén Rivero, who sadly died in 2011; San Bartolomé de Tirajana became one of the first municipal councils in The Canaries to truly embrace the political and economic power of openly extending the hand of friendship to the LGBT community and promoting ideas of acceptance, liberty and self-determination in a world still rife with discrimination against those not included in what had been termed ´traditional family values´. Idea's of 'family' have of course evolved significantly in that time. Enlisting the help of powerful political entities, such as the Patronato de Turismo,

Dario successfully argued that regardless of institutional prejudice, no one could deny that Gran Canaria had already managed to annually attract a formidable number of LGBT travellers, which stood at between 20-25% of the total tourism market in the south, (more than double the global average) and that to ignore any group with such potentially high spending and strong political power would be an error both culturally in a changing world and in terms of realising the opportunity to capitalise on Gran Canaria's already existing image of warm acceptance and inclusivity. It made sense to cater to this group. More than simply putting on an event at a commercial centre in the south of Gran Canaria, during what is traditionally the slowest time of year, his ideas centred around bringing about tangible cultural transformation, by persuading decision makers that it would simply be bad business practice to ignore such an ostensibly lucrative market. His ideas have never been more relevant than they are today. Maspalomas GayPRIDE was created initially with the energetic help of the foreign resident community, working hand in hand with native

isleños, Canario businesses, ayuntamientos, the cabildo, the ministry for tourism, hoteliers, restaurateurs, bar owners, newspapers, radio, television and a whole host of others in order to encourage the LGBT community to come together in celebration of freedom for all people to love who they love without prejudice. Today, in his absence, Darius's dream has continued to grow, providing a unique opportunity to the businesses of the Yumbo centre to find ways to capitalise on an annual concentrated influx of visitors who are attracted to what is now a major international free music festival as well as an act of remembrance and unity. As with all growing businesses however, there are many who would like to see things run differently. It now needs new blood and new ideas if it is going to face the challenges of tomorrow. Worth fighting for?

Elder Statesman of PRIDE, John 'Hollywoods' Barrie


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