VENEZUELA: To commemorate the pivotal Stonewall riots Venezuela's gay community joins in Gay Pride festivities around the world

Record ID: 277483

  • Title: VENEZUELA: To commemorate the pivotal Stonewall riots Venezuela's gay community joins in Gay Pride festivities around the world
  • Date: 6th July 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) TRANSSEXUAL, ESTRELLA, SAYING: "The life of a transsexual is tough because of the discrimination, because of society but I think being a transsexual is beautiful. If God wanted me to be born again I would choose to be reborn again, to be reborn as a transsexual."
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6GHNJJKY4L30NXZY6ZQ8PD0G6
  • Story Text: The Venezuelan capital celebrated Gay Pride on Sunday (July 05), with organizers handing out hundreds of condoms to promote safe sex and the fight against HIV/AIDS.
    In a colour kaleidoscope that stretched through the streets of Caracas, revelers marched for better legal rights and social protection.
    Many gay pride events occur around June 28 to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York City, known as the first time in US history when people in the homosexual community fought back against police oppression.
    "I was born a man but I feel like a woman and I really act like a woman and we want people to respect our reality," a transsexual named Arianna said.
    Gay couples are not allowed to marry in Venezuela, and have few civil protection rights.
    Elsewhere in the region, Argentina's Senate is currently debating whether to become the first country in predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America to allow same-sex marriages.
    Transsexuals living in Venezuela, like Estrella, a Caracas hairdresser, say being a transsexual is even harder than most, because she faces a lot of discrimination.
    "The life of a transsexual is tough because of the discrimination, because of society but I think being a transsexual is beautiful. If God wanted me to be born again I would choose to be reborn again, to be reborn as a transsexual," transsexual hairdresser Estrella said.
    The march ran from East Park to Venezuela Plaza.
    Supporters said they just want the same rights as everyone else.
    "Venezuela also supports this vindication of the human spirit that is the fight for gay rights in all its aspects -- from marriage, to the social political rights to civil rights and, well, this is a good opportunity to celebrate and have a good time," said one marcher, Frank Velladares.
    Other large Gay Pride marches were also held in Madrid and London over the weekend.
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