Despite funding cuts, local media estimate that 800,000 people gathered on Copacabana beach for the annual event.
ADVERTISEMENTThousands gathered on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana beach on Sunday to celebrate the city’s annual Gay Pride Parade.
Despite the country’s liberal reputation, Brazil has one of the highest rates of violence against homosexuals in Latin America.
The theme of this year’s parade: resistance.
AFP: Rainbow flags, glitter, lipstick, and lots of dancing at today’s Pride Parade in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil pic.twitter.com/W2a4Q1OxS5https://t.co/YwQdqqJfYb
— Bangladesh News 24 (@bdnews24) November 19, 2017
One reveller said that discrimation is still rife in Brazil adding that homosexuals face “a daily battle”.
“This is not just a party. You have to show society that you exist, that you pay your taxes, and that things have to be more equal for everybody,” he said.
AFP: Rainbow flags, glitter, lipstick, and lots of dancing at today’s Pride Parade in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil pic.twitter.com/W2a4Q1OxS5https://t.co/YwQdqqJfYb
— Bangladesh News 24 (@bdnews24) November 19, 2017
Although deep funding cuts by the city government threatened the parade’s survival, donations from the private sector saved the day.
However, this prompted protests against Rio’s evangelical mayor, Marcelo Crivella. from large swathes of the 800,000 strong crowd.
Now in its 22nd year, the event draws tourists from around the world and has become Brazil’s second largest street party after the world-famous Carnival.