BRAZIL: Rio's gay community gathers for annual carnival Gala

Record ID: 277061

  • Title: BRAZIL: Rio's gay community gathers for annual carnival Gala
  • Date: 18th February 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF BAND PLAYING DURING THE GAY GALA BALL VARIOUS OF REVELERS DANCING
  • Embargoed: 5th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA7CDGNCVGI66GJPA6O5D6BLH20
  • Story Text: Hundreds of tireless revelers flocked to Rio de Janeiro's Gay Gala Ball on Tuesday (February 16) night as Carnival celebrations wrapped up before Ash Wednesday.
    Onlookers gathered outside the ball's entrance, now in its 30th year, to check out the men arriving in glittering miniskirts, evening dresses, bead-studded lingerie and feathered head-dresses.
    "I love it, I love this party, I arrive early to get a good spot," said Sueli Schwitler, who was at the crowd observing the revelers' arrival.
    Government workers handed out condoms for the revelers who passed through the entrance's pink runaway decorated with colorful balloons.
    German tourist Remy Kondrak, who came for the Gay Gala for the second time, said it is the best Carnival party.
    "I think it's the best one. (Reporter asks: Why?) Because all the people come together, it's not just one way, you know what I mean? It's funny, it's interesting and you see things that you normally don't have the chance to see," he said.
    One reveler dressed as the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the ball is the best in Brazil.
    "We are here for another Gala Gay, which it's Brazil's best ball, my friend. The president is here paying tribute to all the gay community, to the transvestites, everybody," he said.
    During the traditional ball, a band pounded out samba songs while dancers cheered the crowd and transvestites struggled to stay upright in their stiletto heels.
    After four days of wild revelry on the streets and extravagant parades at the Sambadrome, Carnival in Rio gets closer to the end. The festivities were officially opened on Friday and end on Ash Wednesday.
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