Journalism of Courage
A cloudless, sunny sky smiled down upon the hundreds of thousands of revellers who came out to celebrate the world's largest gay pride parade on Sunday (May 4) in Sao Paulo.
Revelers pose for photos during the annual Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP)
Around midday throngs of dancing and singing people, many in costume, began parading down Sao Paulo's main boulevard, Avenida Paulista. Sao Paulo's colorful parade, which Guinness first named the world's biggest gay pride celebration in 2006, celebrated its 18th anniversary Sunday.
People carry a rainbow flag during the 18th Gay Pride Parade in Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. (Reuters)
The first Sao Paulo gay pride parade, in 1997, had only 2,000 participants.
A reveller poses wearing the colours of Brazil during the Gay Pride Parade in Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. (Reuters)
The parade's principal theme this year was to advocate for the criminalisation of crimes motivated by homophobia.
Revelers take a selfie during the annual Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP)
Organisers also called for the passing of a gender identity bill in Brazil, similar to that passed in Argentina, which allows people to legally change their gender without needing a surgery or prior approval from a judge.
A reveller holds up rainbow coloured umbrella during the Gay Pride Parade in Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. (Reuters)
Both local and federal governments now heavily support the Sao Paulo parade. This year both the city mayor and state governor attended the event. Once again the non-profit APOGLBT, Brazil's LGBT Pride association, organised the parade.
Revelers pose for photos during the annual Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP)
Two dancers from a Miami Beach drag queen bar pose for selfies before the Pride Parade. (AP)
The Miami Beach Gay Pride is an two-day event that features a beach party and a Festival and Parade with more than 125 LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses, celebrities, musical performances, refreshments, food and a family-friendly play area. Coming into its sixth year, Miami Beach Gay Pride has grown into the largest, two-day event of the entire year in Miami Beach.
A reveler sings during the annual Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP)
Gay rights advocates are calling for a Brazilian law against discrimination as they gather by the hundreds of thousands in Sao Paulo for one of the world's largest gay pride parades. (AP)
A transvestite gestures during the Gay Pride Parade in Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. (Reuters)
A reveller poses during the Gay Pride Parade in Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. (Reuters)
The official mascot of the FIFA 2014 World Cup, Fuleco the Armadillo, hangs on the bag of a reveller during the Gay Pride Parade in Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. (Reuters)
