Cofradía de la Purísima Sangre

The Cofradía de la Purísima Sangre is a religious brotherhood in Sagunto, Valencia, Spain, central to the town's Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations. This organization is currently newsworthy due to its continued ban on women participating in its processions. Recently, the brotherhood held a vote where a majority of its (all-male) members reaffirmed this ban, despite growing pressure to become more inclusive. As a result, the Spanish government has initiated proceedings to revoke Sagunto's Semana Santa's designation as a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest, arguing that the gender discrimination violates constitutional principles of equality. The government's stance, supported by the Minister of Equality, highlights the broader issue of gender equality within religious organizations and the potential consequences of discriminatory practices on cultural recognition and public funding.