Noticias

On Saturday July 18 at Plaza de la Libertad, and with music by Abuela DJ, preparations for the Pride Parade began, with rainbow flags and banners. Around 4pm, more than 1,000 people marched through the main streets of downtown Asuncion to commemorate the LGBT pride.

Simon Cazal, co-founder and executive director of SOMOSGAY, gave an emotional speech: "Each and every one of us are survivors of a long struggle, and this is why what you all just did is extremely brave. I want to congratulate each one of you for being brave, for coming out, for being happy and not let fear win us and not let anyone tell you that you do not deserve to be happy."

Miguel Angel Auad (Petunia), renowned activist and founder of CHOPA (Homosexual Community of Paraguay) also mentioned a few words: "When we started this fight with a group of friends and colleagues, I never imagined that today a festival like this would be possible here, in public. We suffered a lot at the time of dictatorship -police imprisoned us, beat us and degraded us countless times. And today, I see each one of you and feel free and happy, full of joy."

Then came the most anticipated moment of the Pride Parade: more than 20 same-sex couples joined in symbolic marriage and exchanged their vows. The ceremony was led by paraguayan trans activist Barbara Cibils. To close the activity, different groups took the stage, as The Walkers Blues Band, Andrea Valobra and The Sinatras, Las Negras and Alto Voltaje, filling the festival with blues, rock and punk music for everyone to dance.

SOMOSGAY reaffirms that this movement is stronger than ever, and that does not stop. The diversity and strength that radiates every day makes this fight for equality to prosper and a society free of discrimination and homophobia a reality.