BOLIVIA: Bolivians celebrate Gay Pride in a country where homophobia and discrimination remain common problems

Record ID: 277704

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Bolivians celebrate Gay Pride in a country where homophobia and discrimination remain common problems
  • Date: 1st July 2012
  • Summary: MORE OF PARTICIPANTS DANCING
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVABNZ0ELVJA78ZMW6IAPXI436OL
  • Story Text: A hand full of Bolivians came out on Saturday (June 30) to celebrate the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in a country where society generally frowns upon it and homophobia and discrimination remain a common problem.
    Despite recent political advances in Bolivia gay and transsexual acceptance has been a long and continuing struggle.
    "I'm very happy and joyful to be able to share this with our society and be able to vindicate our rights year after year," said 2012 crowned Gay Pride Miss, Angeles Vida Lobatti.
    In El Alto, where many residents hold very traditional Aymara views compared to capital La Paz, the more than 300 GLBT members continue to organize health and tolerance workshops and distribute information among the population throughout the year. Saturday was no different while they celebrated their gay pride in a country where anything outside the norm is met with derision.
    Freddy Luna, an heterosexual resident expressed his views towards everyone's inclusion in society.
    "This is a good way to express themselves and not be discriminated as they part of the same society we live in," he said.
    Although, Gay Pride is viewed more like a community event and tamed in comparison with other Latin American and European countries, the occasion was a festive day to celebrate diversity and ad a day to claim respect for the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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