Organizers of Sao Paulo's giant gay
pride parade used Sunday's event to send a political message to
politicians during an election year.
An estimated 3.2 million revelers
flooded down the city's main artery in what is billed by organizers
as the world's largest gay pride parade.
As Brazil looks to elect new leaders in
October, pride organizers themed this year's event “Vote against
homophobia.”
“We're bringing a strong theme this
year to encourage people to vote for candidates who really are doing
something on behalf of LGBT people,” Alexandre Santos, president of
the Association of GLBT Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, told Folha.com.
Brazil decriminalized being gay in 1830
and discrimination based on sexual orientation was outlawed in 1988.
But many rights – including marriage – remain out of reach and
violence against LGBT people is on the rise. Homophobic attacks left
198 people dead last year. (Brazil does recognize legal gay
marriages from other countries.)
The brightly colored revelers made
their way down skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista in South America's
largest city. The event continues to draw thousands of tourists
every year and has eclipsed Sydney's legendary gay pride as the
world's largest.