Gay pride revelers in Sao Paulo reclaim Brazil’s national symbols

2024-12-26 00:01:21 source:lotradecoin techsupport category:My

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — The iconic yellow and green of Brazil’s flag mixed with a sea of rainbow-colored tutus, hand fans and drag queen hairdos at Sunday’s LGBTQ+ pride parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The annual event along Sao Paulo’s main thoroughfare is among the biggest gay pride celebrations in the world, attracting thousands of people to celebrate the sexual diversity in a country synonymous with street partying but where violence and discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community has surged in recent years.

A reveler poses for a photo during the annual Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

While apparel is mostly optional, this year organizers made a special appeal for participants to wear green and yellow in a pointed rebuke to far-right followers of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who in recent time appropriated Brazil’s national symbols for themselves.

“We will march this afternoon to take back our flag and to show that Brazil will be better, it will be queer, butch, transvestite,” Erika Hilton, who in 2022 became one of two openly transgender people elected to Brazil’s congress, told a cheering crowd of revelers.

Participants carry a rainbow banner as thousands march in the annual Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Although Brazil has pioneered LGBTQ+ rights in Latin America — transphobia was made a crime in 2019 — the country still has the largest number of trans and queer people murdered in the world.

Revelers strike poses during the annual Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

READ MORE 5 dogs with military intelligence unit in violence-plagued Ecuador given medals for service The first woman elected to lead Mexico faces pressing gender-related issues A scientist, a leftist and a former Mexico City mayor. Who is Claudia Sheinbaum?

In 2023, Brazil was responsible for 31% of all 321 murders of trans and gender diverse people reported murdered worldwide, according to Transgender Europe, which collects data globally. It was the 16th straight year Brazil led the list. ___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

More:My

Recommend

How to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' for free: Special date, streaming info

It's Christmastime, Charlie Brown! And with Christmastime comes Christmas movies like the aptly name

Presidents Cup TV, streaming, rosters for US vs. International tournament

The 2024 Presidents Cup is nearly here.The four-day, men's match play event that pits a team of U.S.

How to watch People's Choice Country Awards, where Beyoncé, Zach Bryan lead 2024 nominees

The second annual People's Choice Country Awards will be hosted by Shania Twain and held at the Gran