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This is an information resource mainly written for trans US citizens considering emigrating to another country, although we hope it is useful beyond that.

Please treat this wiki as a starting point for your own research, not as an authoritative source of truth or as legal advice.

Many of the authors have gone through the process themselves and want to share what they have learned.

Spain/CultureIntegration

From Trans World Express

Culture and Integration

In addition to the general Cultural adaptation tips, this page covers issues specific to Spain, including autonomous communities like Catalonia.

Cultural Differences between Spain and the US

When Spanish women greet other women or men for the first time or after a long-ish time, they lightly embrace and give a non-contact kiss near each cheek.

Spaniards are generally more open and friendly on the surface. They are very ready to give direct feedback. You may get stares but not because anyone is disapproving, but simply because you may be "different." Many may openly comment on your appearance, like being atypically tall.

  • friendships

Workplace Culture

In the modern business world, hours are generally 9am to 6pm with an hour lunch break at 1pm. Depending on the industry, there may be more unfamiliar hours, such as a 1.5 or 2 hour lunch and a much later end time.

Store Opening Hours

Hours are very unpredictable, but in general:

  • Everything closes on Sunday except big box stores and supermarkets, which are open 7 days, 10am-9pm
  • Local/artisan stores are open M-F 10am-2pm, 4 or 5pm-9pm and Saturdays with shorter hours
  • Food markets are M-F 10am-2pm, 3pm-7pm, and Saturdays with shorter hours
  • Cafes vary but are generally M-F 10am-6pm-ish
  • Sit-down restaurants are M-Sat 12pm-4pm, 7/8/even 9pm to midnight or
  • Coffee shops vary but are open earlier 8am-4pm

The more local/mom-and-pop the store, the more unpredictable the hours.

Many stores are closed the entire month of August and some even into early September.

Holidays

Spain generally follows Western European holiday schedules with each autonomous community having their own holidays as well.

Many folks leave the cities for their cabins or vacations elsewhere during August. There is also a large exodus at Christmas time to visit family anywhere from mid-December to mid-January.

  • taboos

Restrooms

Most businesses have gender-segregated restrooms but no localities have passed any bathroom bans. More modern buildings (at least in Catalonia) tend to have gender neutral facilities.

Food (vegan/vegetarian options)

Pork is extremely abundant. That chicken broth you buy at the store may actually have some pork broth in it, so be sure to read labels or ask servers if you do not eat pork.

Larger cities tend to have good veg options.

Spain (and especially Barcelona) seem to be way ahead of the curve on gluten free options.

Seafood is very abundant with Tuna (fished from the Strait of Gibraltar), anchovies, and octopus being the most popular.

Cultural Differences between Catalonia and the US

Catalonians often seem very gruff and unfriendly at first. But over time as they get to know you they will open up and become very friendly.

  • friendships
  • workplace culture

Holidays

  • Dia de Catalunya
  • La Merce

Cultural Attitudes Toward Trans People

Attitudes in general tend to be "live and let live" toward trans and queer folk. There are a number of famous trans-femme entertainers who have been popular even during the waning Franco years.

Societal Acceptance

Acceptance varies by region, with Catalonia, Madrid, and major coastal towns being the least conservative.

Some famous trans people:

Historical Context

Spain's inquisition lasted from 1478 to 1834 and persecuted many individuals for "sodomy," which included homosexual sex between men.

Napoleon's invasion of Spain introduced legal changes that removed laws against sodomy.

In 1901, a lesbian couple managed to marry with one of them dressing as a man. But they were eventually caught and had to flee.

In 1931, a group of transvestites in Barcelona held the first documented LGBT demonstration in history protesting the closure of a bath house.

In 1936-39, Franco's army swept across Spain and as they conquered, enacted a "social cleansing" that imprisoned LGBT people and put them into concentration and work camps. This was part of Franco's Falangism, aka "National Catholicism" that imposed a strict moral code on Spaniards. There did exist some pockets of queer activity in Barcelona, Sitges, Ibiza and Málaga centering around red light districts and resorts for jet-setters.

As Franco aged, in the 1960s and 1970s he enacted stricter rules against gay and trans people as homosexuality was explicitly added as a form of vagrancy punishable with fines, psychiatric imprisonment, or castration. This also led to more frequent and severe raids and closures of gay establishments in the above-mentioned cities.

When Franco finally died in 1976, the anti-LGBT laws ceased to be enforced and Barcelona held Spain's first pride parade in 1977, with Mardid following in 1979.

Everything associated with Falangism and Catholicism was rejected and Spain embraced openness, becoming one of the most progressive countries for LGBT rights.

Bureaucracy & Paperwork

Spain loves bureaucracy. Regardless of your immigration path, a key piece of advice from seasoned expats is, "bring or acquire a printer - you will be printing many documents as part of immigrating."

Navigating Spanish Bureaucracy

You can hire a Gestor to assist with filling out paperwork.

  • common challenges
  • corruption

Learning Spanish

Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Spain. Note that the Spanish here is Castellano (Castillian) Spanish, which is a bit different than the Latin American Spanish that many folks from the US are used to.

You can survive speaking English, but outside of touristy businesses and restaurants, you will find that most people only know some basic words and phrases and it will be difficult to navigate.

Spanish is a relatively easy language to learn with lots of resources and media available.

Language Courses and Schools

  • Duo Lingo can be an OK start, but note that it focuses on Latin American Spanish
In Barcelona

Pronouns in Spanish

Normally, pronouns are binary, with "el" meaning "he" and "ella" meaning "her." The gender-neutral alternative is "elle."

All Spanish words are gendered, such as "amigo" for "male friend" and "amiga" for "female friend." Some people use gender-neutral endings, so amigo/a would become "amige."

Furthermore, when referring to groups of people in the 1st and 2nd person, the endings change based on the gender of people in the group. A group of all women will get the -as ending, as in "nosotras" and "vosotras." If there is even one man in the group, they get the -os ending, as in "nosotros" and "vosotros." We can use "e" just like above and get "nosotres" and "vosotres."

Learning Catalan

Catalan can be described as a mix of Italian, French, and Spanish. It is closely related to Occitan. The overall structure is similar to Spanish. In Catalonia, you will sometimes encounter people who only speak Catalan, or if they are native Catalan speakers, prefer to just speak in English rather than soil their mouths with Castillian Spanish. Catalan was forbidden under Franco's dictatorship and the Catalonians are very proud to be able to speak their language again.

If you are familiar with Spanish, Catalan will be relatively easy to pick up.

  • language courses
  • materials for learning the language

Pronouns in Catalan

  • if applicable: how do pronouns work in LANGUAGE? Are there pronouns for non-binary people?
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