Hundreds of thousands turn out for gay pride parade (Sao Paulo)

[struggle4progress]

Organizers said they expected 1.5 million people to attend the Eighth Annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans-gender Pride Parade, which would make it the world's biggest gay event.
<snip>

Civil unions between same-sex couples are permitted only in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul. While the practice has not spread to other states, the unions have stirred surprisingly little controversy in this predominantly Roman Catholic country.
<snip>

Sao Paulo Mayor Marta Suplicy gave a speech to open the parade, as she did last year, proclaiming her pride in the city's diversity.
<snip>

Revelers unfurled a 50-meter-long (55-yard) rainbow flag, and health ministry workers distributed 50,000 free condoms.
<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/06/13/brazil.gay.parade.ap/

[PartyPooper]

1. This thread needs a kick.

:kick:

[David__77]

2. Latin America is touchstone of LGBT movement in third world.

In Africa, only in South Africa can lesbians and gays live openly. In the Asian third world, in Thailand there is relative tolerance as well as in urban China. But that's about it. I hope that gains continue to be made. Brazil is a good example of this, despite the continuing high rate of hate-motivated murders there.