English in Madrid

Spain’s LGBT matador: 'More will come out because of me' Spain's first openly LGBT matador believes more bullfighters will come out, after revealing he is pansexual. "There have always been gay people in bullfighting, but they didn't say anything," says Mario Alcalde. I meet the 31-year-old on a remote farm near the Portuguese border, where he is having a practice session for one of Spain's most notable, and notorious , traditions. Dressed in a small black waistcoat and skin-tight grey trousers, he looks every inch the bullfighter . But Mario Alcalde also works full-time as a baggage handler at Madrid-Barajas Airport and lives with his family. Bullfighting only pays big bucks for an elite few. He's now embracing a boost to his profile after telling Spanish newspaper El Mundo he is pansexual - someone who is attracted to another, regardless of their sex or gender. It was a spontaneous decision to come out, he says. Not even his family knew. &q

Spain's prime minister defends Eurovision entry Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has defended the country's Eurovision song after it was branded "anti-women". The electro-pop anthem Zorra has come under fire because its title, which means vixen, is more often used to mean "bitch" or " slut " in Spanish slang . The song "insults women in a sexist way", said the Feminist Movement of Madrid in a statement . But Mr Sánchez dismissed the criticism , saying the song challenged sexist stereotypes. "It seems to me that feminism is not only fair, it can be fun, and this type of provocation must come from culture," he told the Al Rojo Vivo programme on La Sexta television. Zorra is performed by Nebulossa - a duo formed by María "Mery" Bas and Mark Dasous, from the village Ondara in Alicante. They have been married for 20 years and raised two children before forming their band in 2018. The group made headlines