Massive Brazil LGBT Pride

Brazil’s Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans Pride demonstration was massive this year. Organizers estimate that 2 million lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and trans people—including some 400,000 who came from around the world—
marched down Avenida Paulista, a main avenue, in the ninth annual event.

Pride organizers stressed that this was not only a
celebration but a demonstration. Marchers emphatically demanded a stop to gay bashings and murders. The
central demand was passage of a proposed law legalizing same-sex civil unions, which has been stalled by debate in Congress for a decade. The Roman Catholic Church—
Brazil has the world’s biggest Catholic population—staunchly opposes the legislation.

One banner stated the case simply: “We have the same commitments, we want the same rights.”

—Leslie Feinberg