The Mayor of Barcelona spoke about dating men and women on primetime television in Spain.

Ada Colau Ballano sat down for an intimate interview with TV presenter Jorge Javier Vázque on 9 December.

Vázque is a popular Spanish TV presenter. He was a guest judge on Got Talent España (Spain’s Got Talent) in 2016. He is also a host on Gran Hermano (Big Brother).

The presenter is openly gay.

Ada Colau Ballano became Barcelona’s first ever female mayor on 13 June 2015.

Barcelona is a city located in the east of Spain.

Ada Colau explained in the interview: ‘I had a boyfriend first and then a girlfriend. I had both, for many years.‘

She went on to explain she met a woman while studying briefly in Italy. Colau and the Italian woman dated for a few years and the relationship was ‘very important’ to Colau.

The mayor said her family was very accept and ‘it was perfectly normal.’

She continued: ‘We had a lot of gay friends,. It was part of the normality of our environment.’

Vázque asked Colau if she thought coming out would damage her career.

Colau said she ‘did not even think about it.’

She added: ‘We live in a modern society where everyone can love whoever they want, while respecting others.’

A role model

Amanda Rodriguez is a spokesperon for State Federeción of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals.

FELGBT is an LGBT rights organization in Spain

Rodriguez praised Colau for coming out and being a role model for generations to come.

‘They need to find on television and in their daily lives, models they can look up to,’ she explained.