Yesterday, between 75,000 and 80,000 people marched down Avenida Boa Viagem for Recife's 13th annual Diversity March not just to celebrate the beauty of individuality, but to protest for change on behalf of the LGBT community in the state of Pernambuco, Brasil. This year they announced big news: this Friday, September 26, 2014 the Ministry of Development and Human Rights will launch a comprehensive health policy. Since the community endures regular discrimination and stigmatization, the changes with allow not only access to health services but will provide training and education to professionals working in the healthcare field. In addition, they also announced a project aimed to reserve a number of seats in professional qualification courses offered by the government- a vital opportunity for the LGBT population who have difficulty entering the job market.
The event was incredible. Twelve double-wide flatbeds equipped with dancing stages, mega speakers and signs stacked the avenue. Well known local companies, actors, musicians, and politicians showed up in support too. They sang, danced and marched in the blazing sunshine down the avenue, filled to the brim with buckets of drinks, water, treats, and memories.
Deets hates loud noises and wasn't particularly pleased he had to endure the ground shaking bass for 90 minutes, but he significantly cheered up when I told him the parade was for people who wanted to love whoever they wanted. Margo on the other hand, was into it from the get-go. She waved at all the princes and princesses on the floats and danced her little booty off. She even charmed a young man in the parade as he hopped off a float and ran back to give her a rainbow flag.The crowd was overwhelming; for some time I stood there watching with my family, tears rolling down my face. I was thrilled to see such a huge draw but equally heartbroken that we have to have these marches at all. Maybe someday the inequality and injustice will feel like a bad dream. But until then...
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The event was incredible. Twelve double-wide flatbeds equipped with dancing stages, mega speakers and signs stacked the avenue. Well known local companies, actors, musicians, and politicians showed up in support too. They sang, danced and marched in the blazing sunshine down the avenue, filled to the brim with buckets of drinks, water, treats, and memories.
Deets hates loud noises and wasn't particularly pleased he had to endure the ground shaking bass for 90 minutes, but he significantly cheered up when I told him the parade was for people who wanted to love whoever they wanted. Margo on the other hand, was into it from the get-go. She waved at all the princes and princesses on the floats and danced her little booty off. She even charmed a young man in the parade as he hopped off a float and ran back to give her a rainbow flag.The crowd was overwhelming; for some time I stood there watching with my family, tears rolling down my face. I was thrilled to see such a huge draw but equally heartbroken that we have to have these marches at all. Maybe someday the inequality and injustice will feel like a bad dream. But until then...
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| "Enough of Transphobia" |
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| "Where there is hate, I bring love" |
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| "Peace" |
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| "Recife without prejudice and discrimination" |
What wonderful pictures and what a "FABULOUS" event! We miss you guys!
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