Updated on June 5, 2009
The LGBT Pride Parade - Parada do Orgulho GLBT, in São Paulo, is said to be the largest event of its kind in the world. Promoted by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Parade Association - APOGLBT, it usually takes place in May or June. About 3.4 million people participated in the 2008 edition.
The starting point is MASP - São Paulo Museum of Art, next to the Trianon/MASP subway station (Green Line) on Paulista Avenue. The route is closed to cars and about 1,400 police officers are on duty for the event.
The theme for São Paulo's 13th LGBT Pride Parade on June 14, 2009 is "No Homophobia, More Citizenship - For Isonomy".
As of this writing, a partial program has been released:
- 7th Cycle of Debates - Building LGBT Policies - June 3, 8, 16, 18 and 20 from 6p-11p (place to be defined)
- 9th Cultural Fair - June 11 from 11a-10p (place to be defined)
- 9th Gay Day - June 13, 10a-10p at Playcenter.
- Parade - June 14 at 12p, from MASP to Praça Roosevelt.
"Homophobia kills! For a truly laic state" was the theme of the 12th LGBT Parade, in 2008. APOGLBT supports a truly laic state as a way to grant full citizenship to all, without restrictions that stem from religious beliefs. One of the concerns is the fact that same-sex marriages are not acknowledged by Brazilian laws.
During the parade events, APOGLBT has partnerships with other organizations for a collection of warm clothing donations and a survey which will inform Fecomercio, a retail business federation, in the creation of a certified seal for businesses that respect diversity.
The Cultural Fair has been part of the LGBT Pride Parade events in São Paulo since 2001.
The 9th Cultural Fair will take place on July 11, 2009 at the Anhangabaú Valley. Of the 120 stalls, 40 will be hosted by NGOs, 26 will sell food and the rest will sell fashion, books and more.
The fair will also feature shows and performances, with three guest DJs. In 2008, the 8th Cultural Fair at República Square was attended by about 200,000.
Promoted by the Brazilian Lesbian League (LBL), the walk happens one day before the LGBT Pride Parade, also on Paulista Avenue.
The Lesbian and Bisexual Walk supports the advancement of an egalitarian and homophobia-free society and aims to break the invisibility to which lesbians and bisexuals are subject within the LGBT movement and society at large.
In 2009, the Lesbian and Bisexual Walk will be on June 11, under the theme "For a Feminist World". It will begin at 1pm at Praça Osvaldo Cruz, a square at the start of Avenida Paulista. The walk will end with a 6m show at Boulevard Nove de Julho, behind MASP.
Every year since 2001, APOGLBT has recognized political and cultural initiatives which value the citizenship of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals.
In 2009, recipients of awards presented during the kickoff event for the LGBT Parade on June 4 included Grêmio Arco-Íris, São Paulo's first gay samba school; Grupo Arco-Íris, or the Rainbow Group, from Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazil Minister of Health, José Gomes Temporão, for signing a law which included the transsexual process in Brazil's public health system.
More than 20 trios elétricos sponsored by private, governmental and non-governmental organizations provide the music for Parada GLBT.
In 2008, Renato Lopes, one of the most famous DJs in Brazil, was in charge of the trio elétrico sponsored by the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, whose slogan for the parade was "Diversity: Brazil is more beautiful this way".
APOGLBT participated with awareness themes such as lesbian visibility and DST/AIDS prevention.
Clubbing is one of the highlights of LGBT Pride Parade week. In 2009, The Week leads the fun with the Eterna Festival, an electronic music festival for the LGBT crowd.
More LGBT Parade 2009 Parties:
- Bubu Lounge - see video on the Bubu Lounge Blog
- Ultradiesel
