Millions of
people waving rainbow flags and wearing lavish Carnival
costumes paraded in South America's biggest city Sunday to
celebrate gay pride and demand an end to homophobia
and sexism.
To the beat of
music blasting from more than 20 sound trucks, gay men,
lesbians, and cross-dressers danced and cheered along the
skycraper-lined Avenida Paulista, Sao Paulo's
financial heart.
Organizers
estimated that about 5 million people attended the 12th
annual Sao Paulo Gay Pride Parade, traditionally one
of the world's biggest. Local authorities did not give
a crowd estimate, but said millions were likely
present.
''This is a great
party, everyone mingles,'' participant Cesar Alves told
the government's Agencia Brasil news service. ''Everybody
respects each other here.''
Tourism officials
said the parade was expected to attract nearly 330,000
visitors, 20% more than last year's event. The event was
projected to bring about $115 million to the city and
help create 13,500 direct and indirect jobs.
The parade caps a
full week of attractions, including the Cultural Gay
Fair, Gay Day, and the International GLS Tourism Forum, the
city's tourism department said.
''We still see
cases of homophobia in the country,'' Brazilian tourism
minister Marta Suplicy told the crowd from the top of a
sound truck. ''We still don't have a law making
homophobia a crime, and that needs to change. Congress
has to approve this law.''
Authorities
arrested at least five people for small robberies during the
parade, and a man was injured in the leg after being run
over by one of the sound trucks.
Last year, at
least 3 million people packed the streets of Sao Paulo for
what organizers said was the world's largest gay pride
parade. (Tales Azzoni, AP)