"Australians to the back of the line! American's first!" That was the new rule we came up with in 2004 while spending eight days on Gran Canaria. We were nine crazy Americans vacationing on one of the gay hot spot resort towns of Europe during our Thanksgiving break. Everyone was telling us that Gran Canaria, more specifically, Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas was where the English, French, and Germans gays would go to enjoy holiday. They were telling us we shouldn't be there (in a fun and comical way) and that it was too far for us to go on vacation. We brushed it all off, except for when the Australians would get in front of us in line at the falafel eatery at 6 AM in the morning.
I would go back to the Canary Islands, leaving some of my fellow travelers and their drama back on the North American continent. The clubs were fun, the men were "foreign," and the times were great. But the next time me and the good boys get to go, will the Yumbo Centre be the same?
New rules and regulations could destroy Gran Canaria’s gay scene, many bars, clubs and party-goers fear.
The Town Hall, also known as the Ayuntamiento, of the Spanish island’s main LGBTI area is cracking down to make sure bars, clubs and other venues follow new rules intended to comply with EU regulations.
This means several changes for the Yumbo Centre, the hub of Gran Canaria’s gay nightlife in Playa del Inglés. With over 30 different venues specifically for LGBTI people, catering to different tastes from leather to drag, it could mean many venues will suffer in the lead up to the high season of summer tourists, and of course, Pride.
Bars must now remove all tables from the street and reduce music volumes to a minimum. Venues must close according to their license and permit, which for the majority is 2.30am. Further measures include prohibiting music and shows on terraces. There are other bizarre rules like demands on the height of sunshades and that windbreakers must be transparent.
This could be fatal. Gran Canaria has a warm climate and many venues depend on outside space for entertainment.
‘The police is enforcing the law and doing it quite vigorously,’ André Wanrooij, president of Gran Canaria’s LGBTI rights organisation GLAY, told Gay Star News. ‘Everything is regards to rights and permits and they are now being carefully controlled.’
Wanrooij said there are several bar owners who do not speak Spanish, meaning it is only now they are being made aware of the changes to the legislation.
GLAY has launched a petition to plead with the town hall to make clear to business owners their intentions and what rules and regulations need to be followed. While they agree the law is the law and it should be followed by everyone, they note some rules seem to be explicitly targeting the Yumbo – especially the ones regarding entertainment on terraces.
They are asking officials to give businesses a reasonable time to adjust to these legislative conditions or apply for a new permit that is more applicable to their business model or venue.
A separate petition, launched on Change.org, has already attracted over 3,000 signatures. They are asking for support for what they call ‘draconian’ regulations.
‘We’re happy that people feel involved in the community,’ Wanrooij added. ‘We have a very special situation, unique in the world, as this island is a mini-continent of cultures. This community needs to be preserved and maintained. It’s important we can create a dialogue with the governmental bodies to find a solution to the problems regarding sound and health and opening permits and all these bureaucratic issues need to be resolved.’
While no one from the Ayuntamiento was available to speak to GSN for this article, sources say they are willing to start a ‘conversation’ with the LGBTI community regarding this issue. – gaystarnews.com
All kidding aside, as long as the Australians aren't there, are these new regulations fair?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it?
Does all of the EU need to follow the same rules, especially when you are 90 miles off the coast of Morocco?
Have you been to Yumbo Centre?
h/t: gaystarnews
I have to say the families
I have to say the families flocking here with all the troubles of Turkey, Tunisia etc will kill off the place as the town hall looks to ditch what has kept the Yumbo a viable business area for the last 20 years. If I heard the words 'I had no idea' – 'this is disgusting' – 'what the hell is this place' once this week I have heard it dozens of times. The families flocking to eat and shop early evening look at the gay couples with disgust. I fear that the town hall has foreseen the influx of family tourism given the unsettled times and has put in place rules that will see the end of this venue
i can see it being a shock to families who if entering via the mini golf side can see an kids arcade with trampolines and then walk past cruise bar, a dark room bar etc and then are faced with 'gangs' of lads and girls relaxing as they have done for years. Mothers pulling their sons back into their group (for what reason you inbreds) and a general incredulous attitude that such a place exists
Perhaps there will be an integration of some sorts in the 'normal' bars where we saw previously startled couples sat having a chat and a laugh but the caberet bars and the 'harder' venues will struggle and God only knows what they'll do through pride – I fear for its existence as a gay venue
That might be the answer..
That might be the answer.. Since it is a "self contained facility" they need to all co-own the centere and fence it off, making all the venues INSIDE the walls be considered as INSIDE the venue… even if they are located on the communal terrace in the common area.
There’s just no need for this
There's just no need for this. The Yumbo is a self contained venue. At night the only people who go there are LGBT. It's been an amazing place for the community for years. Don't ruin this place with beaurocratic bull S@£T!