Thousands of Chileans celebrated civil
unions at the tenth annual Santiago Pride.
Organizers of Saturday's event told the
AFP that an estimated 60,000 revelers showed up to celebrate passage
of a law that recognizes gay and lesbian couples with civil unions in
Chile.
The law took effect on October 22.
Daniela Andrade, spokeswoman for
Movilh-Joven, told local media that the group had high hopes for a
large turnout because “our people want to celebrate” the new law.
She also said that true equality will not be realized until gay
couples are allowed to marry and a proposed bill is approved
protecting transgender people from discrimination.
The celebration took place in front of
the Palacio de La Moneda, or simply La Moneda, which houses the
president and the offices of three cabinet ministers.
More than 40 DJs and 100 artists kept
the party going from four stages, the AFP reported.