Millions of gays and lesbians join Sao Paulo Pride
An estimated three million people joined Sao Paolo Pride yesterday in the world’s biggest celebration of gay culture.
Marchers through South America’s biggest city came together to dance in the street, condemn homophobia and demand equal rights.
They also marched to draw attention to gay rights ahead of the country’s presidential election, with the theme “Vote against homophobia”.
Alexandre Santos, president of the Association of GLBT Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, told Folha.com: “We’re bringing a strong theme this year to encourage people to vote for candidates who really are doing something on behalf of LGBT people.”
Homosexuality is legal in Brazil and the country outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1988.
But the country’s gay rights campaigners say benefits such as the right to marry are still being denied and violence against gay people is rising.
Last year, 198 people died in homophobic attacks.
