Legendary international and Spanish LGBT rights advocate Jordi Petit has tied the knot with his partner of seven years, Frenchman Yves Bohic, in a ceremony held yesterday in Barcelona that was officiated by the city's mayor, Jordi Hereu (yes, there are lots of Jordis in Spain).The wedding was attended by more than 200 people (partial guest list here) including members of Mr. Bohic's family who traveled from France to celebrate the couple's wedding.
Jordi has been in the trenches as back as the 1970's when Spain was still under dictator Francisco Franco's rule and gays and lesbians were being persecuted (Jordi had already been arrested a few times for his political involvement by the time he became active in the LGBT-rights in the late 1970's).
As AIDS struck the gay community in Spain, Jordi was also there in the 1980's and 1990's when he led the first wave of activists who demanded access to HIV treatment (at the wedding ceremony he wore a red ribbon when red ribbons have mostly fallen out of grace).
His unwavering commitment to LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS activism brought him acclaim that led to increasing international involvement. From 1995 to 1999 he was elected as the Secretary General of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) through which he used his formidable talents to address worldwide LGBT human rights violations.
Usually I find myself praising LGBT activists upon finding out that they have died but this is a chance to celebrate a hero on a happy occasion. Jordi Petit and Yves Bohic, long life together and congratulations from New York! Wish I'd been there!
UPDATE: Below is Jordi & Yves New Years' card
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Merci pour vos voeux qui nous vont droit au coeur. Thank you very much for your congratulations. Big hugs from both of us.
Yves BOHIC & Jordi LOZANO (PETIT)
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