The 4th edition of the São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade took place last Sunday (18). Before the start of the demonstration on Av. Paulista, there was a press conference, attended by governor Geraldo Alckimin, mayor Fenando Haddad, the minister of Human Rights Ideli Salvatti, the president of APOLGBT SP Fernando Quaresma, among others.
Press conference
The press conference started around 10am. Fernando Quaresma was the first to speak. He focused his speech on questions about the criminalization of HomoLesboTransobia. "The LGBT community needs a law that punishes HomoLesboTransphobia", he argued.
Regarding the Parade, he revealed that he does not understand or agree with those who say that it has lost its meaning. "It's very easy to criticize the Parade and do nothing to help the association or LGBTs during the year," he argued.
The APOLGBT SP advisor also had the floor. Moved, he said that people's concerns should be about a specific law that punishes homolesbotransphobia and not about the amount spent to hold the Parade. "It is unacceptable that PLC 122 has been shelved. We need a secretariat for LGBTs", he shouted.
Minister Ideli Salvatti was emphatic. "Unfortunately, in Brazil, the power is male, white, rich and heterosexual. We need to transform the public of the LGBT Parade into votes for our representatives", she said, who defended the existence of the Parade.
The speeches by governor Geraldo Alckmin and Fernando Haddad followed the same line of reasoning. They had power over the identity and diversity of São Paulo and how the Parade contributes to this. "We are what we are because we are different. We cannot admit crimes of intolerance", argued Haddad.
"São Paulo is the land of diversity and the Parade shows our moral identity", concluded Geraldo Alckmin.
LGBT Pride Parade.
The av. Paulista was already filled with protesters when some members of the government returned to speak in the first trio of the Parade. They spoke again about respect, diversity and the criminalization of HomoLesboTrasphobia.
Data from the Military Police speak of around 100 people at the event, although organizers say the number is around 3 million. It was possible to find many LGBTs, but also heterosexual families, children and animals with the colors of the rainbow.
Cars, as traditionally, began to cross the avenue. Paulista around 13pm. When the clock reached 17:30 pm, the last cars were already finishing their route on Rua da Consolação.
Closing show
The closing show, led by Wanessa, was marked by some turmoil between organizers and the press. Security guards did not allow many accredited people to watch the show in front of the stage and, according to Alessandro Melchior, coordinator of LGBT policies at the Human Rights Secretariat, members of the organization and city hall were also unable to see the show.
"A lot of people tried to enter without wristbands and our security guards were blocking them. But our security guards ended up being forced to let a lot of people go, which caused several problems in the stage area. The City Hall pays for two thirds of this event and didn't even go on stage", he commented.
Wanessa performed her last show before going on maternity leave to prepare to give birth to her second child. See some photos from the 18th edition of the São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade:
