Barcelona Wants to Ban Offensive Souvenirs from Its Streets
The city just proposed a souvenir regulation ban.
A sense of humor that relies on tasteless homophobic and sexist jokes will not be tolerated in Barcelona, to the point that the city wants to ban souvenirs with that kind of "comedic" bent.
In a world where cheap jokes at the expense of women and minorities are often overlooked and excused as "just jokes," Barcelona wants to establish clear boundaries for what, in reality, is not funny but offensive. In addition to showing support for the city's many communities, the proposed souvenir ban aims to keep Barcelona's name clear.
"[They] devalue the most visited streets in Barcelona," Councillor Jordi Coronas, who contributed to proposing the ban, said, according to Euronews. "They are a shabby mess, which degrades the image of Barcelona as a tourist destination."
Coronas is referring to the many souvenirs that line the streets of Barcelona's Ciutat Vella, calling them "offensive" and "bad in taste." The targeted mementos display anything from penises with the Barcelona brand to actual homophobic or sexist phrases printed on them.
However, it might be a while before we see Barcelona's streets cleared of such items. While the economic commission of the city council approved the motion for the proposal to regulate souvenirs in the city, concrete rules are challenging to establish.
"It is difficult to standardize it because what is considered in bad taste is a matter of very high subjectivity," Barcelona's Deputy Mayor for Economy Jordi Valls, who supports the initiative, said.
If you happen to be in Barcelona in the near future, it is likely that the ban will not be in effect yet—but you can also opt for a cute magnet or a very unique souvenir that doesn't try to make you laugh at the expense of others.