RIO DE JANEIRO-BRAZIL/GAY GALA Rio's gay community turn out for carnival gay gala

Record ID: 278256

  • Title: RIO DE JANEIRO-BRAZIL/GAY GALA Rio's gay community turn out for carnival gay gala
  • Date: 18th February 2015
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 17, 2015) (REUTERS) TWO MEN DRESSED IN LEATHER AND CARNIVAL MASKS DANCING CLOSE-UP OF MEN IN FANCY DRESS WITH THEIR FACES PAINTED MEN DANCING IN FANCY DRESS AND SINGLETS CLOSE-UP OF BARMAN MAKING CAIPIRINHAS BAR TENDERS MAKING DRINKS FOR PATRONS A DRAG QUEEN WITH A BIG WIG AND MASSIVE FEATHERED BOA MAKING HER ENTRANCE REVELLERS ARRIVING IN
  • Embargoed: 5th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA82DHMGDL4Z2MVVHAOM2EL9379
  • Story Text: After five days of non-stop partying, Rio de Janeiro's Carnival came to a splashing end at the annual Gay Gala on Tuesday (February 17) night.
    Hordes of tourists and local partygoers were led by a gaggle of drag queens and queer folk to the downtown Rio Scala night club for one last bash to officially close out Carnival 2015.
    The Gay Gala has become a staple of Rio's Carnival and attracts all kinds of revellers, gay, straight, lesbian, transgender and everything in between.
    Kea Alhoa Kelekolio came from Hawaii and said he could not have asked for more out of his Carnival experience.
    "We are here because we want to have a great time and we're enjoying ourselves here in Brazil, Rio. It's a great party, the biggest party on the planet and we're so happy to be here and hope everyone else enjoys themselves," Kelekolio said.
    Another reveller from the United States, Noah Aroncander, said he had never experienced a better party.
    "This is the biggest party ever. This is better than Burning Man. This is the best party I've ever been to. Rio is the best city on Earth," Aroncander said.
    Partygoers here were prepared to dance well into the night to take advantage one last hurrah before the city returns to work on Wednesday (February 18) morning.
    A local drag queen performer who goes by the name Iven said she and her friends always look forward to the Gay Gala at the Rio Scala club.
    "It is always such a pleasure to come to the Scala Party. It's a party for us to get together with all our friends to have a great Carnival. And that's it. Dancing samba, relaxing and Brazil," she said.
    Carnival started on Friday (February 13) and officially ends Tuesday with the start of Ash Wednesday which brings in the Lent season.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register