The LGBTQ culture that paved the way in Spain

Libérate is a fitting tribute to those artists, films, songs, and venues that brought color and sparkle—sequins, of course—back to a country that had lived in black and white for too long. It's a tribute to the LGBTQ culture that, even in the grayest part of Spain, managed to forge a path, overcoming adversity, circumventing censorship, and overcoming the distrust of a society that was still far from tolerant.

Through nearly one hundred entries arranged like a dictionary, journalist Valeria Vegas compiles a multitude of essential references and referents for understanding the role that gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trans women and men, drag artists, transformists, and allies of the collective have played in Spanish culture. A historical journey that begins in the early 1960s, with the premiere of the film Diferente and the emergence of Coccinelle on Madrid's Gran Vía, passes through the turbulent years of the Transition and extends to the beginning of the 21st century, reminding us that just a decade ago there were still territories of freedom left to conquer.

In the words of its author, "perhaps this book will do justice to all those careers forged on stage. Because the history of our LGBTQ culture is still being written, and we must begin by organizing what has already happened, accurately and reliably, giving all key figures the place they deserve. Being aware of our past will allow us to lay the foundations for our future."