Out Spotlight

Many LGBT communities celebrate Pride during the month of June, so today's Out Spotlight is Largest Gay Pride Parade in the World, The Sao Paulo Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo Brazile. This year marked the 14th annual Pride Parade.

This theme was "Vote against Homophobia" and was a reminder for LGBT Brazilians and their allies to "pay attention to the political debate on gay issues this year when Brazilians are going to the polls to vote to elect the next President as well as the Senate and Congressmen.

Although organizers planned for four million people for this year's, news reports put the figure at around three million around those of last year at 3.2 million.

"Millions of gays and lesbians have jammed several of Sao Paulo's main avenues for the 14th annual gay pride parade in South America's largest city."A river of gay men, lesbians, cross dressers and even heterosexual couples flowed down skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista"

The 4.2 km parade started at Avenida Paulista (MASP) at around noon on Sunday, June 6th and ending at the Praça Rooselvelt, in Downtown Sao Paulo, at around 10pm.

Sao Paulo's first parade was in 1997 was attended by 2,000 people. By 2003, participation hit one million and from 2006, the annual parade in Brazil's largest city(pop.11 million) hit the three million mark and at it largest parade with 3.5 million in 2007. It has remained over 3 million since.

The Parade being the largest event of its kind in the world and it is one of the major tourist attractions in Brazil, receiving official support from the city government of Sao Paulo, as well as the federal and state governments.

The parade (Parada do Orgulho Gay de Sao Paulo, Brasil) and its associated events are organized by the APOGLBT – Associacao da Parada do Orgulho de Gays, Lesbicas, Bissexuais e Travestis e Transexuais since its foundation in 1999. The parade takes place at the beginning of the Brazilian winter when the temperatures are a bit cooler and there is less likely to rain.

The Month of LGBT Pride in Sao Paulo was born from the experience of organizing parades and has added more activities over the years such as The Cycle of Debates, the LGBT Cultural Fair, the Citizenship Award in Respect of Diversity, and the successful Gay Day, that happens on the Saturday before the main parade.

A non-profit organization, the APOGLBT’s mission is to fight for a more just and inclusive society, which recognizes equal rights for all. The association has served to promote citizenship and self-esteem of LGBT by conducting and encouraging activities of all kinds.

The almost 14 years of success reflect the seriousness of the organization with its principles and goals.

It was reported that a 198 people were killed last year in homophobic and transphobic attacks in Brazil.

Sister city Rio de Janeiro will have its pride parade on Oct 10, 2010.