The publication, sponsored by the Island Council's Equality and Diversity department, documents the club's trajectory from the late 20th century to the early 21st. It gathers testimonies from artists, patrons, and individuals linked to its history, highlighting its role as a space for meeting and freedom for the LGTBIQ+ community on the island.
For over three decades, Vampis was not only a key point in the nightlife scene of northern Tenerife but also a place that allowed many individuals to express themselves and build community at a time when significant social barriers still existed for sexual and gender diversity.
The Island Director of Equality and Diversity, Patricia León, emphasized during the presentation the book's importance in recalling how the venue contributed to greater personal freedom. She noted that Vampis offered an environment for encounters, expression, and experiences within a social context where LGTBIQA+ individuals continued to face considerable obstacles.
The recovery of this memory is particularly relevant in Tenerife, where many LGTBIQA+ social spaces served as refuges, mutual support centers, and hubs for cultural creation. Vampis's history is linked to nightlife, music, performance, and the personal relationships that developed around the venue.
Marrero's work goes beyond the history of a club; it offers a perspective on the island's recent past through the experiences of those who found a place in the night to be visible, create networks, and forge identities during a period of social change.
The founder of Vampis, José Manuel Placeres, explained that the work includes over 20 life stories spanning three generations. Under the bat symbol associated with the venue, thousands of people found friendship, love, and the chance to be themselves.
The testimonies included reconstruct the venue's evolution and its impact on Tenerife's popular culture, illustrating how these leisure spaces functioned as emotional and social refuges for individuals who did not always find recognition elsewhere.
The presentation of 'Vampis Más Allá de la Noche' is part of the Tenerife Island Council's program for International LGTBIQA+ Pride Day, which includes various cultural and awareness-raising activities to promote a society free from discrimination.
