Brazil: Thousands attend Pride march to speak out against anti-LGBT murders

Thousands of Brazilians attended Rio de Janeiro’s 19th Pride event on Sunday, speaking out against the shocking number of LGBT people who have been murdered in the country.

Attendees marched under the slogan “A million voices!” along Copacabana beach this weekend, the Egypt Independent reports.

It comes after a report last month revealed at least 216 LGBT people have been murdered in Brazil so far this year.

Carlos Tufvesson, one of the event organisers, said: “It is important that the population understands their rights and they express themselves against homophobia.”

Though homosexuality is not a crime in Brazil, it is notorious for having one of the highest murder rates for LGBT people – and transgender people in particular – in the world.

An estimated 338 LGBT Brazilians were murdered in 2012.

A security guard in Brazil has confessed to killing at least 39 people “out of anger,” including gay people, homeless people, and women.

In October, an 18 year old gay Brazilian was found murdered with a broken neck – an attack that is being investigated as a hate crime.

Rights activist Carlos Tufvesson told O Globo that the murders should be treated as hate crimes, as racist murders are.

Presidential candidate Levy Fidelix said that gay people “need psychological care” at a live television debate last month.

Brazil recently voted in favour of a UN resolution which condemns violence and discrimination against LGBT people.

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