December 26, 1978
On December 26, 1978, the Council of Ministers of Spain ratified the modificación de la Ley modification of law 16/1970 on Dangerousness and Social Rehabilitation. This law, approved by the Franco regime on August 5, 1970 (and which replaced the former. Ley de Vagos y Maleantes de 1948) punished anyone considered socially dangerous, including people from the LGTBIQ+ community.
Under the imposition of this norm, many LGTBIQ+ comrades were unjustly imprisoned, tortured, mistreated, persecuted, harassed or subjected to shock treatment. Simply for having a sexual orientation or a sexual or gender identity that did not fit with the regime's wishes. This date - December 26, 1978 - is marked in the history of the LGTBIQ+ community in Spain, continuing its struggle for equal rights.
The Fundation
One day of whatever month, enjoying a few days off in Gran Canaria, Federico Armenteros saw an older gay man walking towards the sea, leaning on his walker. At that moment he feels pain as he becomes aware of the invisibility of LGTBIQ+ seniors. “Where are they?” he questioned. A question that marks the beginning of the development of the December 26 Foundation, which would be constituted as such on October 25, 2010 with the aim of making LGTBIQ+ seniors visible.
On February 21, 2014, the Txema de Roa head office was inaugurated at Amparo Street, 27, Madrid, and in January 2015, the psychosocial intervention programs began. In 2022 the head office moves to Fray Ceferino Street, 4, Madrid.activity begins in Galicia with the implementation of an intervention group.
The Josete Massa residence, currently under construction in the neighborhood of Villaverde (Madrid), will be the first public LGTBIQ+ residence for the elderly in the world. A milestone for the entire LGTBIQ+ community in Spain.
Our objectives
- Specialized and professional psychosocial care for lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and intersex (LGTBIQ+) seniors.
- Residential care preferably for lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and intersex (LGTBIQ+) seniors.
- Manage health, housing, social inclusion and insertion, socio-educational, and training and awareness-raising resources to improve the care and quality of life of the community served.
- Promote all types of activities that promote and enhance the visibility and equality of LGTBIQ+ seniors.
- Promoting intergenerationality in the LGTBIQ+ community.
- Promulgate and organize events aimed at getting society and authorities to recognize the historical memory of the LGTBIQ+ community in Spain.
- To organize and coordinate congresses, symposiums, meetings, conferences, seminars and lecture series that address the needs and integral problems of LGTBIQ+ seniors.
- To elaborate studies and research, as well as to program, produce, edit and distribute publications, with the purpose of advising and informing on matters related to health, culture, physical activity, leisure and free time to the people to whom the Foundation is addressed.
Transparency
The December 26th Foundation is a non-profit, statewide organization, registered in the Registro de Fundaciones del Ministerio de Justicia de España with the register number 2706JUS.
The Foundation is also attached to the Protectorate of Foundations of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Acknowledging our mistakes, honesty and transparency set us free.