A new incarnation of the Diversa Festival, a cultural and social event that has become a benchmark for LGBTI+ visibility in the province of Alicante, will be held in Elche from May 16th to the 24th. The festival, which is presented under the motto “More visible, more possible,” is organised by the City Council through the Departments of Social Action, Culture, and Youth. This motto embodies the festival’s characteristic spirit of inclusion and diversity.

The Diversa 2025 Festival programme encompasses a variety of events, such as panel discussions, theatre, film, athletics, live podcasts, and concerts, all of which will feature notable artists and personalities. Diversa has experienced substantial growth since its inception in 2009. The 2024 edition attracted over 4,200 attendees, a 20% increase from the previous year, as indicated by city council data.

Celia Lastra, Councillor for Social Action, underscored that “this festival is not merely a celebration; it is a social transformation tool that enables us to coexist with empathy and respect, thereby reinforcing the principles of diversity and integration.”

The Congress Centre, the Odeón Cinemas, the Sports City, and the L’Escorxador CCCE are among the venues that will hold the events. The latter will host a significant portion of the activities. This year, Miguel Hernández University (UMH) is also participating through its Vice-Rectorate for Culture, Equality, and Diversity.

On Thursday, May 16th, the programme will commence with a panel discussion featuring Choriza May, a well-known drag diva who is recognised for her involvement in Drag Race UK. The Espai Escènic del Escorxador will host the event at 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.

The horror classic Scream (1996) will be screened at 12:00 p.m. at the Congress Centre on Friday, the 17th. Cristina Alcázar and Carla Pulpón will be broadcasting the podcast “Cover Lo Sera Tú” live at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, the 18th, at the Escorxador. Tickets for this event, as well as the other paid performances, are priced at 5 euros and can be obtained from the Gran Teatro box office or the Vivaticket platform.

The Congress Centre will host a discussion on the cultural memory of the LGBTI+ community at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, the 23rd. The Sports City will host a sports day with Dimove at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, the 24th. In the afternoon, the theater-cabaret “The Night of a Thousand Marinas” will be performed at 7:30 p.m.

Natalia Lacunza, a finalist on Operación Triunfo and one of the most influential emerging artists on the Spanish music landscape, will be performing at the festival’s closing ceremony. The festival’s inaugural speech will precede the concert, which is scheduled to commence at 10:00 PM on the Escorxador terrace.

Elche reiterates its dedication to the rights of the LGBTI+ community through this initiative, which provides a platform for expression and commemoration that is accessible to all citizens.

Yesterday, Wednesday May 7th, a guard at a mental health centre in Elda was sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay 12,000€ compensation for the periodic sexual assault of a patient.

According to the Valencian High Court of Justice (TSJCV), the prosecution accuses him of committing a continuous crime of sexual assault with penetration. The court has stated that he is accused of intermittently entering the user’s bedroom and sexually assaulting her.

During the summer of 2021 and June 2022, the defendant, according to the prosecution, exploited night shifts and entered the victim’s room on a weekly basis. The victim has been diagnosed with an illness that impairs her ability to exert her will.

The TSJCV stated that the man, who is alleged to be fully cognisant of the woman’s diagnosis, informed her on numerous occasions that she would deeply regret it if she disclosed the situation to anyone.

A significant disturbance occurred in the Colonia Madrid neighbourhood of Benidorm. On Tuesday May 6th, firefighters from the Provincial Fire Consortium in the tourism capital responded to Calle Alcalá in response to a fire that had originated on the balcony of a residence in a building that housed a gas cylinder.

A fire brigade vehicle, an urban fire engine, and a specialised high-rise rescue vehicle were used to transport firefighters to the location. An ambulance and paramedics were also activated as a precautionary measure, in addition to numerous Benidorm Local Police and National Police units.

The flames on the residence’s veranda caused damage to several private possessions. The safety valve of a cylinder ruptured as a result of the elevated pressure of the gas inside, which resulted in the formation of a blazing flame. The fire only resulted in material damage.

Thanks to the drone of the city’s Local Police Air Unit, firefighters were able to rapidly halt the progression of the fire by obtaining instantaneous images of the interior of the burned residence. This facilitated emergency coordination at the forward command post.