BRAZIL-GAY PRIDE Hundreds of thousands gather for Sao Paulo gay parade

Record ID: 150429

  • Title: BRAZIL-GAY PRIDE Hundreds of thousands gather for Sao Paulo gay parade
  • Date: 7th June 2015
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (JUNE 07, 2015) (REUTERS) MASSIVE CROWD GATHERED FOR THE SAO PAULO GAY PARADE WITH REVELLERS WAVING A GIANT RAINBOW FLAG REVELLERS DANCING AND DRINKING IN FRONT OF MASSIVE RAINBOW FLAG REVELLERS WAVING TO CAMERA MASSIVE CROWD AND A PARADE FLOAT CROWD CHEERING TRANSGENDER WOMEN HOLDING A SIGN READING, 'I AM PROUD TO BE A TRANSVESTITE' MASSIVE CROWD GATHERE
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABOGLCMZOOZRWYV8WA29LN2R7R
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of revellers flooded Sao Paulo's Avenida Paulista Sunday (June 7) as they sang and danced at the 19th annual Sao Paulo Gay Parade.
    Organizers say the event, which draws massive crowds from all over Brazil and the entire world, is the largest gay pride parade in the world.
    The first Sao Paulo gay pride parade, in 1997, had only 2,000 participants.
    This year's celebration drew out the crowds with the festive atmosphere getting off to an early start as party-goers and LGBT rights activists came together for the mega event starting around 10 a.m. local time (1300 GMT).
    The event was organized by the Sao Paulo branch of the non-profit APOGLBT, Brazil's LGBT Pride association.
    This year's theme was "I was born this way, I grew up this way, I'm always going to be this way: respect me," as activists demanded rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community while also celebrating the advancement of equal marriage rights in Brazil and other countries around the world.
    But for many it also represented a chance to don elaborate costumes and celebrate diversity in the street.
    "It is all great, super. It is so good that look. That's right," a man identified as Marcelo said while showing off his home-made costume.
    The parade is a big money-maker for the city of Sao Paulo with tourists estimated to spend some $60 million reais ($20 million dollars) over the week of festivities which started on Thursday (June 04).
    More than 70 percent of hotel rooms were booked as the city welcomed travellers from all over the world.
    Another party-goer, Eugenio, said his costume was designed to celebrate the coming together of humanity.
    "It's our life experience, our world, our respect and our triumphs around the world, with one another. And my costume is inspired by the fantasy of women, men, transgender people - all human beings," he said.
    Every year the parade winds down the central Paulista Avenue on its way to downtown.
    The street party is expected to last until about 9 p.m. local time (2400 GMT).
    The colourful parade was first listed by Guinness as the world's biggest gay pride celebration in 2006.
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