MEXICO: Gay pride's rainbow colours fill Mexico City streets in annual parade

Record ID: 277911

  • Title: MEXICO: Gay pride's rainbow colours fill Mexico City streets in annual parade
  • Date: 29th June 2013
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA8Z3FRSPSVF98ZP5NCT0FQZ9H6
  • Story Text: Festivity pulses through the streets of Mexico City as activist gather in annual march to celebrate gay pride.
    Thousands of people marched through Mexico City's iconic Reforma boulevard on Saturday (June 29) to celebrate the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community urging the government to do more to end gay discrimination across Mexico.
    Brandishing banners and signs, thousands of people rode colourful floats and decked themselves out in eye-popping costumes.
    A far cry from the capital's first gay march in 1978, thousands came out to demand equal rights.
    Parade spokesperson, Gabriela Almanza, said the community is encouraged by advances, but that there's still a long way to go.
    "So far we have made great advances in the question of laws, there is equal marriage, and changing the birth certificate for one's chosen gender identity. Nevertheless, both processes face obstacles. Equal marriage is not completely equal because different from heterosexual marriages, when a gay couple marries, social security is not guaranteed immediately," she said.
    Mexico City is home to the most visible gay community in the country and couples freely express affection in many parts of the city.
    However, outside the capital attitudes differ sharply, with an impunity towards discrimination and reports of violence against homosexuals common, activists say.
    "I think it's a lack of culture from the people, or not being well-informed about what it means to be gay or homosexual. I think it's mainly because of machismo, they think you are not a hundred percent man. I think sex preference doesn't make you more or less, you simply live with your sexual orientation," said march participant, Alejandro Sanchez
    But little could dampen the sprits of marchers on Saturday.
    "I do it with pride. Before, we were chased and stones were thrown at us. Now there's a lot of freedom. I'm older now, but enjoy coming every year," said marcher Juan Escamilla.
    Many gay activists are hopeful that recent strides in gay rights legislation in the capital represents part of a sea change in attitudes on homosexuality in much of traditionally conservative Mexico and Latin America.
    Argentina became the first Latin American country to allow gay marriages and adoptions in 2010 and Brazil recognised same-sex partnerships a year later.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register