Alfaro, Anguiano, Arnedo, Calahorra, Cervera, Ezcaray, Haro, Logroño, Nájera, Camero Nuevo, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Camero Viejo

Arnedillo is a municipality and locality with a population of around 450 people in an area of 48.33 square kilometers. The locality dates back to the 10th century.  An earthquake on 18 March 1817 caused significant damage in the area, stopping the hot springs for three months and destroying parts of some buildings.  Starting in 2007, the local town hall has been in control of PSOE.

History

The first out gay couple moved to the town in 1990.  Starting in the early 2000s, the town began working towards 100% integration of gays and lesbians into their community. [1]

The town celebrated Orgullo for the first time in August 2013, with a parade that included a float, a festival and a dinner. Some young people dressed as Pope Francis during the event to criticize his views on homosexuality within the Catholic Church.  Trinkets and candy were thrown from the balcony of the town hall on 2 August as part of the celebration.  This first Pride celebration coincided with the start of the local patron saint day festivities. Media images from the day appear to focus on a man in drag and lesbian visibility appeared non-existent. Later images involving the patron saint showed more women involved in the event.[2]

These celebrations appeared to continue every year since. Balneario TermaEuropa Arnedillo participated in the town’s Orgullo celebrations in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Orgullo took place in June 2019, with events kicking off a day after the town’s saint day. [3]

Eat

Bar La Huella, located at Avenida del Cidacos, 58, is run by Rubén and Marisol Pérez and is LGTBI friendly, with an atmosphere that the owners have tried to normalize.

Stay

Balneario TermaEuropa Arnedillo, located at C. Joaquín Velasco, s/n, is a 133 room four star hotel and spa. The site has been used as a place to relax and enjoy the natural thermal waters dating back to the Roman period. The hotel won the UGT’s premios ’17 de Mayo’ in 2019 in the equal treatment category for being an “example of good practices in the management of diversity and respect for the equality of people in his company.”

Bibliography

Díez, L. (2020, January 6). Arnedillo: el espíritu ‘LGTBI friendly’ en La Rioja más rural. Nueve Cuatro Uno. Retrieved from https://nuevecuatrouno.com/2020/01/06/rioja-arnedillo-espiritu-lgtbi-friendly-pueblos-rural/

La Rioja. (2013, August 9). Desfile ‘gay’ en Arnedillo. La Rioja. Retrieved from https://www.larioja.com/fiestas/fotos/desfile-arnedillo-306276462698-mm.html?edition=

nuevecuatrouno. (2019, May 11). El balneario de Arnedillo, premiado por su valentía contra la ‘LGTBIfobia’. nuevecuatrouno. Retrieved from https://nuevecuatrouno.com/2019/05/11/balneario-arnedillo-premiado-valentia-lgtbifobia-ugt/

P., E. (2013, August 9). El primer desfile del orgullo gay de Arnedillo avivó ayer el ambiente prefestivo. La Rioja. Retrieved from https://www.larioja.com/v/20130802/rioja-comarcas/primer-desfile-orgullo-arnedillo-20130802.html

rioja2. (2019, May 10). El Balneario de Arnedillo, empresa libre de LGTBfobia. rioja2. Retrieved from https://www.rioja2.com/n-131714-2-el-balneario-de-arnedillo-empresa-libre-de-lgtbfobia/

STVRIOJA. (2013, August 2). ARNEDILLO. Arnedillo con el chupinazo ha comenzado las fiestas ayer por la noche se vivió el 1º desfile orgullo gay. STVRIOJA. Retrieved from http://www.stvrioja.com/noticias-16454-ARNEDILLO_Arnedillo_con_el_chupinazo_ha_comenzado.html

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[1] (Díez, 2020) (STVRIOJA, 2013)

[2] (P., 2013; La Rioja, 2013)

[3] (nuevecuatrouno, 2019; rioja2, 2019; Díez, 2020)

Arnedillo, Arnedo, Bergasa, Bergasillas Bajera, Enciso, Herce, Munilla, Muro de Aguas, Préjano, Quel, Santa Eulalia Bajera, Villarroya, Zarzosa.