Spain has once again been recognised as one of the most welcoming countries in Europe for LGBT+ people, topping ILGA-Europe’s latest Rainbow Map rankings for 2025. While the annual report measures laws, protections and equality policies across 49 European countries, for many people living here the results simply confirm what we already experience in everyday life: Spain is, generally speaking, an open, relaxed and accepting place to live.
As someone who has lived in Spain for more than 11 years, including the last six out as a trans woman — I can honestly say that acceptance here often feels refreshingly natural.
That does not mean Spain is perfect. No country is. But there is something noticeably different about the atmosphere here compared to the UK and some other parts of Europe. In Spain, people tend to focus more on living life than judging how others choose to live theirs.
Whether in big cities like Madrid and Valencia, or in coastal communities such as Alicante, Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, there is a feeling that diversity has simply become part of everyday life.
You see it in small moments more than grand gestures.
People are generally polite, respectful and welcoming. Differences are not constantly turned into political debates or media headlines. Most people simply get on with their day, and allow others to do the same.
For me personally, that has made a huge difference to my quality of life.
Living in Spain, I rarely feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about being trans. In fact, most of the time it simply isn’t an issue. When mistakes occasionally happen, they are usually handled with kindness and respect rather than embarrassment or confrontation.
There is also a warmth in Spanish culture that can be difficult to explain until you experience it yourself. People are often naturally sociable, inclusive and open-minded, especially in the many international communities that now exist along the Costa Blanca and other parts of the country.
Perhaps that is one reason so many people from across Europe continue choosing Spain not just as a holiday destination, but as a place to build a life.
The contrast with the UK has become more noticeable in recent years. Britain was once seen as one of Europe’s most progressive countries on LGBT+ equality, but conversations there have become increasingly divided and politicised. Spain, meanwhile, has quietly moved in the opposite direction — not through dramatic headlines, but through a more everyday culture of acceptance.
And ultimately, that is what matters most.
Feeling comfortable walking through your town, sitting in a café, shopping locally or meeting friends without feeling judged is something many people take for granted. Yet for others, that sense of ease can completely shape how at home they feel in a country.
Spain deserves credit for creating an environment where, for many LGBT+ people, life simply feels normal.
In a world that often feels increasingly loud and confrontational, there is something rather refreshing about that.
Thank you for reading,
Carla X