A recent solidarity event in Barcelona, hosted by a local sports nonprofit, has drawn attention not merely for its high-profile guests but for the homophobic backlash sparked by a photo shared from the evening. The gala, which included appearances by famous football figures such as FIFA World Cup winner Joan Capdevila, as well as rising FC Barcelona star Héctor Fort pictured lifting Catalonia’s well-loved drag queen and LGBTQ+ activist Brigitta Lamoure.
Héctor Fort, who is just 18 years old and a right-back for FC Barcelona (which is a position on the pitch, apparently), is rapidly gaining recognition in La Liga (Spanish football league? We're guessing...) with 20 appearances under his belt and an estimated social media following of around four million. Brigitta Lamoure, known for making noise as an activist and a leading light on Catalonia’s LGBTQ+ scene, attended the event where the two shared a lighthearted moment that would soon gain unexpected attention: Fort lifting Lamoure in his arms for a photograph.
Lamoure shared this image on Easter on both Instagram and X, tagging it Resurrection Sunday! The photo was embraced within the LGBTQ+ community but when it got to the football crew, things changed, with a wave of homophobic abuse and slurs directed at both Lamoure and Fort pouring forth. Lamoure remarked to VilaWeb on the distressing nature of the responses: 'I was surprised that many were young people, especially girls, very homophobic. My fight is for a free, diverse and inclusive society.' She found herself having to moderate comments, blocking and deleting numerous offensive remarks.
The incident exposes ongoing issues concerning masculinity and acceptance within men’s football, a sport where openly engaging with queer identities remains relatively uncommon. It also coincides with a noted increase in hate crimes linked to sexual orientation and gender identity across Spain, a country usually regarded as LGBTQ+ friendly.
Amid the online vitriol, Lamoure has reported receiving many supportive messages, but was disappointed that neither Fort nor FC Barcelona have publicly responded to the controversy. Lamoure criticised the club for what she sees as performative allyship, particularly pointing to their sponsorship ties with Qatar, a country where LGBTQ+ relationships remain criminalised. She said: 'On June 28, International Pride Day, they will put flags all over the ground, but they will continue working with Qatar.'
This episode highlights a broader reluctance in men’s football to address and counteract homophobia directly. While there are isolated instances of players speaking out—such as former Spain international Borja Iglesias—these are exceptions rather than the rule. Some fans have suggested gestures of solidarity including more FC Barcelona players engaging with Lamoure or even naming her a 'godmother' of the team, proposals which Lamoure embraced with humor, sharing a video singing a line from the club’s anthem: 'We have a name everyone knows… Barca, Barca, Baaarca!'
Source: Noah Wire Services