Spain’s bullfighting community is experiencing a significant moment as Mario Alcalde, the country’s first openly LGBT matador, reveals his pansexuality. Alcalde believes that his public coming out will inspire more bullfighters to embrace their identities. While gay individuals have long been part of the bullfighting world, many chose to remain silent about their sexuality. This revelation marks a shift in attitudes and acceptance within a historically conservative and traditional sport.
Alcalde, a 31-year-old matador, works as a baggage handler at Madrid-Barajas Airport and lives with his family. Bullfighting, a cultural practice full of flamboyance and machismo, remains controversial, with critics arguing that it is cruel and inhumane. Nevertheless, Alcalde sees bullfighting as an art form and a noble contest between man and beast.
Coming out as pansexual was a spontaneous decision for Alcalde, driven by his artistic inclination for spontaneity. His family was unaware of his sexuality until he made the announcement to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. Surprisingly, Alcalde received widespread acceptance and support from the public, leading him to believe that perceptions of bullfighters as conservative individuals from the countryside contributed to the lack of out LGBT individuals in the sport.
Now, Alcalde hopes to establish a gathering place for bullfighting enthusiasts within Madrid’s vibrant LGBT+ community of Chueca. This initiative aims to create dialogue and bridge the gap between the traditions of bullfighting and the contemporary gay scene.
Opinions within the LGBT+ community regarding bullfighting vary. While some see it as a traditional and cultural event they appreciate, others strongly oppose it, considering it a cruel spectacle that should be eradicated. Younger LGBT+ individuals tend to be less forgiving of the tradition, questioning why a practice with such inherent violence towards animals has persisted solely due to its historical significance.
The declining audience numbers for bullfights support the notion that the sport is losing popularity. Spanish culture ministry statistics indicate that only under 2% of the population attended a bullfight during the 2021-2022 season. Despite this decline, Alcalde vehemently rejects the idea that bullfighting is becoming irrelevant, asserting that society’s sensibilities do not match the reality of life. According to him, accepting death is fundamental to truly embracing life.
During a training session, Alcalde faces a young cow while holding a pink cape. While the animals are not killed in this particular session, they do sustain injuries from a man on horseback armed with a pike pole. Despite facing questions about the violent nature of bullfighting, Alcalde remains resolute in his defense of the art form, proclaiming that he wouldn’t mind dying like a brave bull if given another life.
The impact of Alcalde’s coming out as a pansexual bullfighter remains to be seen. It represents a progressive step towards inclusivity and acceptance within a traditionally conservative sport. It may inspire other bullfighters to embrace their true identities and foster dialogue between the bullfighting community and the LGBT+ community. However, it also highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding bullfighting, with critics advocating for its abolition due to its perceived cruelty towards animals.
