5 millon people gathered in Sao Paulo’s gay rights party

A colorful human sea singing and dancing was seen this Sunday in the heart of Sao Paulo, during the Gay Parade for the rights of homosexuals, and, according to its organizers, brought together around 5 million people.

Sao Paulo's gay parade 1

The festival began past noon and lasted until the evening and in principle neither the police nor the municipal authorities have given estimates for the audience to this event that takes place for 12 years.

The huge Avenida Paulista, the main artery of Sao Paulo, was overwhelmed by a crowd inflamed by the samba and techno music. The colors of the rainbow, a symbol of the gay movement, were omnipresent in clothing, flags, balloons and decorations of buildings and monuments of Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo's gay parade 2

“We are five million” considered a leader of the association of “Gay, Lesbian, Travestis and Sympathizers” that makes this event since 1996 when its first edition barely gathered 2,000 people.

The permanent comings and goings of people who become frantically agitated behind musical bands mounted on trucks prevented the authorities estimate the number of attendees, said spokesmen for the mayoralty of Sao Paulo that he expected some 3.5 million people.

The movement of gay Brazilians pressed for the adoption of laws to protect their interests. Among their demands is the criminalization of homophobia, a project that was halted as gays in Congress by lawmakers linked to churches and Christian evangelical.

The government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva developed the program “Brazil without Homophobia” which assigns items in the budget to promote manifestations of NGOs.

“We are not asking more or less than the rights that the Constitution recognizes all Brazilians,” said Alexandre Santos, president of the association organizing the event. Homosexuals want to recognize civil unions and that same-sex couples be allowed to adopt children. They also call for extending social welfare and labor benefits to couples.

Sao Paulo's gay parade 3

The Gay Parade in Sao Paulo is the second largest event of tourist attraction in the city behind the Formula 1 Grand Prix, according to municipal authorities. This Sunday Stop Gay hosts some 320,000 tourists, including 16,000 arrivals from abroad, said the Ministry of Tourism of Sao Paulo.

Some 1,400 troops of the Military Police monitored the party. The number is higher than that of last year to avoid incidents attributed to high alcohol consumption. A survey in the Gay Parade last year showed that the public profile is balanced between men and women. The majority (39.5%) are people between 25 and 39 years, followed by participants between 18 and 24 (39%). Among those interviewed 49% was declared homosexual, heterosexual 37%, 8.6% 1.4% bisexual and transgender, according to this survey.