Spanish matador Mario Alcalde makes history by coming out: “I go my own way. I don’t care what other people think.”
A post shared by Mario Alcalde (@marioalcaldetorero)The controversial spectacle of bullfighting has a new LGBTQ+ matador.Despite the flamboyant outfits, bullfighting is still a very heteronormative environment and Mario Alcalde, a 31-year-old from Madrid, has now become the first Spanish bullfighter to come out of the closet.
In a new interview, Alcalde, who supplements his income by loading and unloading planes at the airport, announced he is pansexual.Subscribe to our daily newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.“I am a bullfighter.
I go at my own pace. I think differently than other bullfighters. My tastes are not the norm in bullfighting. Both politically and sexually,” he told the Spanish outlet El Mundo. “I am pansexual and I feel very identified with the LGTBI flag.
I fall in love with the interior, I don’t care about gender.” A post shared by Mario Alcalde (@marioalcaldetorero)Pansexuality is defined as having sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity.Although Alcalde is publicly addressing his sexuality now, he’s been living his truth for a while.“I discovered it years ago with several people,” he added. “You connect with them and they change the way you see things.”A post shared by Mario Alcalde (@marioalcaldetorero)The former professional futbol player revealed he’s part of the LGBTQ+ community while filming a ‘Big Brother’-esque reality show in Mexico.While bullfighting has a long tradition in countries like Spain, in recent decades, the “sport” has been derided for animal cruelty for its ritualistic slaughter of the bulls.
