A carnival in Torrevieja, Spain, has faced accusations of promoting pedophilia and sexualizing children, as young girls were dressed in attire resembling “prostitutes” while carrying LGBT rainbow flags.

Video footage from an LGBT-themed event, the “Grand Carnival Parade,” held last Monday in Torrevieja, has sparked significant criticism both nationally and internationally. The Osadía dancing troupe dressed young girls in high heels, stockings, nipple covers, and rainbow flags.

According to El Español newspaper, social media comments from Spanish users criticized the performance for the “sexualization” of children, with some questioning the involvement of a pedophile and the absence of parental supervision. Additionally, the Catholic news outlet InfoVaticana likened the girls’ outfits to those worn by “prostitutes.”

Children who participate in carnival in Spain dress in girls’ clothes and paraded through cheering crowds. What do you think? pic.twitter.com/p56ukDoazU

— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) February 13, 2024

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The Spanish Christian Lawyers Foundation announced their intent to take legal action against the parade, while also criticizing the local city council, led by the supposedly center-right People’s Party, for allowing similar incidents over the years.

Poland Castellanos, the foundation’s president, condemned the situation as reprehensible and a corruption of minors, expressing hope for justice to preserve children’s innocence.

Torrevieja’s People’s Party Mayor, Eduardo Dolón, defended the performance, stating that carnival embodies criticism, satire, and provocation. He emphasized that the parents’ intention was not to hypersexualize their children but to critique Spain’s political and social situation.

Dolón affirmed that the city council would not censor the troupe’s costumes, granting them complete freedom in their representation.

Pablo Samper, a city council member for the local Sueña Torrevieja party, supported the troupe’s innovative approach and vowed to defend their performance against what he likened to “Taliban lawyers”.