Brazil's gays stage huge parade
Pastor Dale Morgan
Brazil's gays stage huge parade *
By Claudia Fontoura
Reuters
Sunday, May 25, 2008; 6:25 PM
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - More than a million gays and transsexuals paraded
in Brazil's business capital Sao Paulo on Sunday in what was billed as
the world's largest gay march to urge an end to violence and discrimination.
DJs blasted dance music from trucks that drove up and down the city's
skyscraper-lined main avenue as people in the dense crowds danced and
celebrated on a hot, sunny day, some wearing wigs, masks and
carnival-style outfits.
"I don't suffer prejudice because I'm usually very discreet but today
I'm living the moment. Here in the center of Sao Paulo, for today,
everyone can do what they like," said Junior Antenor, 21, wearing a
winged silver-and-white angel outfit.
According to witnesses, the event attracted at least 1 million
participants. Police declined to give an official crowd count although
one officer on the scene estimated more than 3 million people took part
and the Sao Paulo Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders Parade
Association said attendance was more than 5 million.
This is the 12th year the parade has been staged.
Sao Paulo authorities and Brazilian oil firm Petrobras backed the event,
which has become a big money-earner for the city and for tourism in
Latin America's biggest country.
"This is the diversity the country wants, the diversity that we have to
foster as a country seeking a tourist niche among the gay community,"
Tourism Minister Marta Suplicy, a former Sao Paulo mayor, said aboard
one of the trucks.
The parade association is also supporting plans by Sao Paulo's Commerce
Federation, Fecomercio, to certify retailers and service providers who
respect diversity of race, ethnic origin, physical difference and sexual
orientation.
On a visit last year to Brazil, the world's most populous Catholic
country, Pope Benedict attracted fewer than 1 million when he spoke out
against homosexuality and called for
traditional family values to be reinforced.
Research consultants Insearch last year said gays in Brazil were
above-average earners and spent more on leisure, but Fecomercio says 40
percent of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgenders suffer discrimination
as consumers.
(Additional reporting by Stephanie Beasley; Writing by Peter Murphy;
Editing by Cynthia Osterman)