The 50 influential Spanish gays in 2016 [1 to 25]

Each year, the daily newspaper “El Mundo” reveals the top 50 most influential Spanish homosexuals. We want to share part of it with you as it shows to the world that you can be gay and have all kind of jobs, all kind of position, like these two gay policemen who got married in 2015.

FERNANDO GRANDE MARLASKA

President of the Criminal Chamber of the Audiencia Nacional. A decade ago he made public his homosexuality and encourages all gay individuals “to help others.” For its commitment and it’s high-level position, he’s n°1 this year in this chart.

BERNARDO HERNÁNDEZ

Investor in new technologies. It is the only Spanish that has reached the leadership of Google (he was its global head of emerging products) and presided leading social networks such as Flickr and Tuenti. He is currently inverter in the wallapop ‘app’. He wants politicians to legislate that everyone can have a family.

LUIS ALEGRE

Secretary General of Podemos-Madrid. With Pablo Iglesias, this university professor is one of the founders of the party that broke the bipartisanship in Spain.

JORGE JAVIER VÁZQUEZ

Presenter. Telecinco continues to triumph with its unbeatable ‘Save me’. He has fulfilled his dream of climbing on tables and has shown that its mere presence is enough to cram theaters.

KIKE SARASOLA

Businessman. He has built an empire with Room Mate hotel chain, which is in full expansion. In 2015 it achieved revenues of 50 million. For this year plans to open seven new hotels and prepares interesting surprises beyond its business side …

PEDRO ALMODÓVAR

Come on! Do we need really to introduce him? OK it’s one of the most well know Filmmaker in the world!. The ‘papers Panama’ complicated the premiere of his latest film ‘Juliet’. In Spain he did not reach the expected box office but was praised in Cannes and received warmly in France. Undoubtedly, the manchego remains a myth of cinema worldwide.

JAVIER MAROTO

Sectorial deputy secretary of the PP. The former mayor of Vitoria is one of the few visible gay in the government of Spain. At their wedding in September 2015 came all the party leadership like Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister of Spain that year.

ÁNGELES ÁLVAREZ

Secretary for Equality and Diversity PSM-PSOE. This was the first deputy activist to speak publicly of her homosexuality. Can you imagine that from politics? for sure Spain has this something special!

SANTI VILA

Minister of Culture of the Generalitat (Barcelona). It is a key figure in Democracy, as he held the portfolio of Minister of Territori in Cataluna. If you’ve been to Barcelona…. yet you know it’s very gay everywhere!

PACO LEÓN

Actor and director. When in prime time, Bertin Osborne told he had boyfriends before being with his wife, he did more for the standardization of bisexuals than any other LGBT campaign. This year his film “‘Kiki: El amor se hace” has become the phenomenon of the season grossing more than six million euros and has revolutionized the Teatro de la Zarzuela with ‘Cómo está Madriz’.

JON KORTAJARENA

Model and actor. It is our n°1 international top model (Madonna is so fan of him, she signed with him for two videoclips). He wants to succeed also as a cinema actor. He’s next movie will be ‘Pieles’ from Eduardo Casanova and Candela Peña.

JUAN ANTONIO ALCALÁ

Sportswriter. After passing through mythical radio show like ‘El larguero’, the leading sports program on Cadena SER, he presents the sports news in the morning show “las mañanas de la Cope” with Carlos Herrera.

EDUARDO LÓPEZ COLLAZO

Scientific Director of IdiPAZ. Directs 1,400 researchers battling against cancer metastasis. He ensures that there will be (good) news soon.

FRAN FERRI

Compromís spokesperson in the Valencian Parliament. With just 30 years, it is one of the strong men of the party governed by Oltra Monica Valencia.

ALEJANDRO AMENÁBAR

Director. His latest film, ‘Regresión’ does not work at the box office as expected, but this Oscar-winning director has built a great career.

JAIME DE LOS SANTOS

Director General of the Cultural Promotion of Madrid area. He is the right hand of Cristina Cifuentes in cultural matters and has taken a turn to the art world of the Community.

TOÑO PÉREZ

Chef. Winner of two Michelin stars, is the first high-level chef appearing on this list. Its restaurant Atrio, run with his 38 years partner Jose Polo, is one of the mandatory food stop passing through Extremadura (The ambassador James Cost is one of his regular customer). After the shooting of Orlando he raised the rainbow flag inside his restaurant.

FELIPE VARELA

Fashion designer. He is the head designer of Letizia, the Queen of Spain, which made him famous among a large and prestigious clientele in Spain and aboard.

MIQUEL ICETA

First Secretary of the PSC. It was the first deputy of the Congress to go out of the closet publicly and currently is a key figure in Catalan politics. His dances in the election campaign of 20-D made him a star in the networks.

MIGUEL POVEDA

Singer. In 2015 he took the step out of the closet in the conservative world of the flamenco. He has just become a father (surrogated gestation).

SERGIO CALDERÓN

Director of Divinity TV Channel, making it a success. In addition, this year he also manages Energy TV and Be Mad TV.

ALFREDO MURILLO

Chief Editor of Buzzfeed Spain. This star of social networks leads the Spanish version of one of the most innovative (and committed) information website.

PALOMA DEL RÍO

Sports journalist. She has narrated lots Olympics, including the last one in Rio de Janeiro. Rhythmic gymnastics owes many of her fans. Last year she decided to speak publicly about her homosexuality in “La Otra Crónica” of El Mundo newspaper.

RAFAEL MARTÍNEZ-CORTIÑA

CEO of Thinketers. This economist is one of the pioneers in collaborative economy in Spain. He coaches the great entrepreneurs of spain to explain them the new trends.