How Spain Became a Global LGBTQ Rights Leader

After the persecution of sexual minorities under the Franco dictatorship, Spain became one of the last Western countries to decriminalize homosexuality. Democracy led to declining influence for the Catholic Church in Spanish society, as did revelations about the Church’s collaborations with the dictatorship. But the Church and allied conservatives still mustered strong opposition to a campaign for same-sex marriage rights. Support from a Socialist prime minister helped the marriage equality campaign triumph with the passage of legislation in 2005, as did framing the campaign in moral terms. The measure put Spain in the global vanguard of LGBTQ rights, setting an example for other countries, especially in Latin America.