Noticias
Noticias
As every year, last Saturday was held, on June 22, The 2013 Equality Parade, from 10:00 am. at the Plaza de los Heroes, in commemoration of the International LGBT Pride Day. With the theme "Building a more inclusive Paraguay", a tribute was made to all lesbians and transsexuals who face daily discrimination and homophobia in our country.
This initiative was attended by elected deputies Karina Rodriguez and Rocio Casco, Michelangelo Auad representative of CHOPA (Homosexual Community Paraguay), Ivan Allende, Health Manager and activists from both, SOMOSGAY and the Argentine LGBT Federation.
The event opened with a talent showcase, which included choreography, singing and theater. The jury was composed of Barbara Cibils , Marly Figueredo, Usha Didi and Michelangelo Auad (Petunia).
Around 01:00 pm, rainbow flags, batucada, posters and shirts with striking colors filled the streets of downtown Asunción.
The fellows from the Argentine LGBT Federation gave emotional speeches. Matías de Volder, fellow from Kunst/Unidos Todos Organization noted that: " Despite legislative advances that have been made in the region, there are many countries that have not yet achieved legal equality." And on the same subject, Julieta Calderón, representative of the Youth Secretariat of the FALGBT said: "It is important to support the paraguayan process of change towards full equality. As fellows in the fight, we will continue to not only monitor this process but also support where we can."
During the day, community agents, with specialists like Dr. Ivan Allende, held an activity with free and instant tests of HIV/Syphilis thanks to the support of the international organization AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation).
Cultura Nativa and Bohemia Urbana, two known national rock and reggae groups played at the event.
The "LGBT Pride Day" was born in the uprising of June 28, 1969, in a small bar in New York called "Stonewall Inn", where the first major confrontation between LGBT people and the police took place. Approximately 300 men and women were arrested after 3 days of intense protests by the ruthless discrimination to which they were subjected by law enforcement, purely and simply because of their sexual orientation. This is a before and after in the LGBT rights movement in the United States, and marks the beginning of the LGBT revolution worldwide. This LGBT Pride Day is celebrated every year from that date of June 28, and recalling the riots in that little bar, where people got tired and said: "Enough of abuse and persecution! "
Paraguay has been and remains a country hit by multiple economic crises under a corrupt system of government with a religious influence, ways of life and a radically conservative macho culture. In our path to building a more inclusive Paraguay, we returned to the streets of Asuncion, but this time to reclaim joy and pride with the struggle of all lesbians and transgender friends, our Paraguayan Residentas.
And so, another year together and celebrate together the pride of building an equal Paraguay without homophobia, no sexism, no violence and in full freedom.
