Current Affairs

Photos: Three million people pack the streets for ‘world’s largest Pride’ in São Paulo

Jun 04 2018
Written by Nick Duffy

Celebrations during São Paulo’s Pride 2018 (MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP/Getty)

The streets of São Paulo were packed with LGBT people and allies for the city’s Pride celebrations – with organisers claiming more than three million people attended.

The 22nd annual São Paulo Pride festival took place this weekend, with hundreds of thousands of people filling the streets of Brazil’s capital for the parade on Sunday (June 3).

The parade was more political than ever ahead of the country’s October elections, with organisers calling on lawmakers and candidates to voice their support for LGBT equality.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Brazil since 2013, but the country does not provide LGBT discrimination protections, and attitudes towards LGBT people are still negative in many areas. Brazil has the highest rate of LGBT murders in the world.

The theme for Pride event was ‘Power for LGBTI +: Our Vote, Our Voice.’

Celebrations during São Paulo’s Pride 2018 (MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP/Getty)

Claudia Regina, President of the LGBT Pride Parade Association of São Paulo, reports that more than three million people attended the event, making it the world’s largest Pride celebration.

Regina said ahead of the march: “Talking about the elections during the LGBT Pride Parade in São Paulo is a valuable way of communicating to all LGBT people about the importance of choosing their candidates and candidates.

“Through our struggle, we have already achieved some rights… but we cannot risk losing what we have already achieved simply through political ignorance.

Celebrations during São Paulo’s Pride 2018 (MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP/Getty)

“LGBT people from all over Brazil need to pay attention to the 2018 Elections. Together, we can all promote a more tolerant world with respect and less LGBTophobia.”

Check out more photos below: