What issues do activists claim underlie police harassment of queer individuals in Spain?

Activists assert that police harassment of queer individuals in Spain extends beyond just problematic drug policies to a deeper, systemic issue - a legacy of homophobia. Despite Spain's pioneering role in queer rights in Europe, being one of the first countries to embrace LGBTQ+ protections, discriminatory policing practices persist. This contradiction between Spain's progressive legal framework and the on-the-ground reality reflects entrenched prejudices that continue to affect how law enforcement interacts with queer communities, particularly men engaging in same-sex relations who report systematic mistreatment by police.