As a lesbian growing up in Lima, Peru, ‘safe spaces’ were abstract, borderline alien concepts entirely out of my reach. Pride exists in Lima, but as someone who has participated in it, I know it as more of a march— a protest— than a parade. The police were involved, of course, and though they were on the protestor’s side in theory, I could never be sure. As I explore my new home in Madrid, I am slowly connecting with my queer identity and trying to let go of the fear and paranoia that has followed me my entire life. There is one street that has gained a special place in my heart these past few years— Chueca.

If you were to ask any local what the ‘gay part’ of Madrid is, Chueca would be a common consensus. During the 80s, in an effort to escape constant harassment, queer folk of all kinds banded together to rebuild and settle in one of the most neglected parts of Madrid, a neighborhood called Chueca. Now a thriving marketplace of ideas, businesses, and homes, Chueca is a well-known safe haven for its LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. Walking the neighborhood of Chueca is what I always hoped my queerness would feel— warm, welcoming, and freeing.

Carrera de Tacones – The High Heeled Race

Seeing as how Chueca is the place to be for to be openly queer, it is no surprise that Chueca is the home of the ‘Carrera de tacones’, or the ‘High Heeled Race’. The ‘Carrera de tacones’ is a yearly Pride event in which queer folk don their trustiest platforms— the biggest of them being up to fifteen centimeters high— and race across the street of Pelayo. The rules? Shoes cannot be stuck, secured, or strapped to the competitors’ feet in anyway. With 350, 250, and 150 euros on the line for first, second, and third-place winners, this race is primarily a community-building event, a Pride event accessible to all ages.

However, as a repressed queer woman with a myriad of anxieties, I hesitated to attend any pride events. I had accepted my queerness, but it being perceived by others was a step too far, at least during my first three years in Madrid. My cousins spoke highly of a particular Pride event this year, and being Latino immigrants themselves, their words hit close to home. We grew up with similar obstacles, and they are my only example of a thriving, gay married couple. Thus, their word is gospel to me.

An interview with a Festival Regular

I asked my cousin a few questions about Pride and the ‘Carrera de Tacones’ to get some insight from someone who engages with Pride regularly:

Why do you believe one participates in the ‘Carrera de Tacones’?

“At this time of the year, such a celebration takes on a vindictive connotation that pushes individuals within the [LGBTQ+] collective to feel the need to participate. To be part of something that is not merely their own but also shared by everyone.”

Do you have any funny stories from this event?

“I remember at the end of the race, a drag queen was interacting with people. She made a very funny joke to a journalist from a TV channel. Fortunately, the journalist took it with humor; it was a moment of laughter shared by everyone present.”

What do you feel is the most significant difference between Pride month in Madrid and Chile?

“The main difference is that this festival has been going on for many years in Madrid, and the advances in terms of freedom and inclusion are very evident compared to Chile. In Spain, I would say that it is a celebration in which everyone participates. While in Chile, it is still a festivity more focused exclusively on the [LGBTQ+] collective.”

What is your favourite part of Pride Month?

“The very last day of the party, the parade, and the march. Here, it is a day when the streets are filled with colour. Besides that, you feel the union of people who share the same feeling of celebration and pride.”

Carrera de Tacones – A deep peace in the noise and commotion

With his answers in mind, I followed the ‘Carrera de Tacones’ closely and had a blast. Coming from a considerably more conservative country, I was surprised to see entire families with children cheering for whichever competitor was dressed in their favourite colour or had the ‘coolest’ hair. No words can describe the peace I felt despite the noise and commotion. Seeing all those smiling faces, from the participants to those simply watching and cheering from their balconies, I knew for the first time, deep in my soul, that I was allowed to one day have a family and that even if I had not been able to see it, I had had a community waiting for me all along,

Directions: Chueca, known as the LGBTQI+ epicenter of Madrid, is north of the famous Gran Vía. The simplest way to reach Chueca is to take the metro’s linea 5. The stop— painted from top to bottom in pride colors and visibly labeled ‘Chueca’— is unmistakable.

The ‘Carrera de Tacones’ tends to summon tourists from all over Spain. I would encourage foreign travellers to plan their upcoming trip to Spain for early July of 2025, as next year’s ‘Carrera de Tacones’ will take place on the 3rd.