This morning, the new LGBTI+ Center in Madeira was inaugurated, now located at Rua Latino Coelho n° 57, in Funchal, in a ceremony that was attended by Miguel Albuquerque, president of the Regional Government, Rita Andrade, regional secretary for Social Inclusion and Citizenship, and Pedro Calado, mayor of Funchal.
It should be noted that this is only the second to open doors in the country, after Lisbon, with the space having been ceded by the Regional Government to the associations Opus Gay Madeira and Rede Aequo.
On the occasion, the Madeiran executive’s number one congratulated the work carried out by these associations, reiterating the need to “end stigma, prejudice and discrimination” and to create a cosmopolitan, open, free, cultured society that demonstrates empathy and understanding towards all citizens.
“It makes no sense to introduce prejudice and stigmas in relation to the LGBTI community”, stressed the minister, regretting that prejudice is “a still very powerful force in society”.
“There are still many young victims of bullying and it makes no sense that this continues to happen”, noted Miguel Albuquerque.
Paulo Spínola, coordinator of Opus Gay Madeira, notes that this new center represents “hope” for all those who may feel discriminatory as a sexual or gender minority “that we can live in a more inclusive society”.
According to the official, this space will provide services ranging from clinical psychology to social activities, such as walks and social gatherings, in addition to the training and awareness-raising work carried out in schools.
Paulo Spínola further stressed that this center has its doors open from today to support all people, from young people to adults, since discrimination, the feeling of isolation and invisibility that affects these minorities is not exclusive to the youngest. .
It should be noted that the LGBTI+ Center in Madeira is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm.
Opus Gay Madeira “offers the entire IGBTI community a psychosocial and therapeutic intervention, around issues such as stigma and discrimination, having, for this purpose, a team of three psychologists”. the main intervention was work of a social nature, with the younger population.