Noticias

Asuncion, hence, adds up to the main cities in the world, by adding this celebration to its cultural calendar. The activity organized by SOMOSGAY was supported by several national and municipal entities: The Office of Culture and Tourism of Asuncion, the Municipal Government of Asuncion, the Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health of the Municipality of Asuncion, ITAIPU Binational Entity, The National Program of Control of STI, HIV and AIDS of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Well Being, the Vice-Ministry of Youth of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Information and Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, are highlighted in the given support of the event.
As opposed to previous years, the FIRST LGBT AND STRAIGHT EQUALITY PARADE was supported by all of the businesses of the LGBT sector in the city: Frogus Karaoke, Hollywood Dance, Trauma Disco Pub, MenStetic Sauna, 945 Sauna y 100% Pablo Star Style & Make Up.
Unlike previous manifestations, this is the first time that the LGBT and straight citizenry was convened in a wider manner. The agenda was also clear and demanding with the celebration of the International Gay Pride Day, framing on the legal equality to achieve social equality. We are very happy by the broad social participation achieved by the LGBT community and the adhesion of straight friends and allies.
The chosen path for the FIRST LGBT AND STRAIGHT EQUALITY PARADE is the same path that 52 years ago the persecuted by the stronista dictatorship at that time: the 108 victims that were persecuted and humiliated in that same path. The systematic persecution in that time, were narrated in first person by Miguel Angel Auad, president to the first LGBT paraguayan organization, the Homosexual Community of Paraguay (CHOPA) founded in 1996. He is also one of the last survivors of the homophobic persecution during the ruling of Stroessner.
Simón Cazal, from SOMOSGAY, restated the fact saying that "we use to walk with shame in these streets and today we do it with dignity and pride with the citizenry" remembering that it was not long ago that, an initiative of David Olmedo (Co-Director of SOMOSGAY) and the now Vice-Minister of Youth Karina Rodriguez, that the topic of persecution suffered mainly by gay males and trans females in the times of Stroessner, in the set of research topics of the Truth and Justice Committee of Paraguay.
Later the words of the Vice-Minister of Youth, Karina Rodriguez, were also expressed. She referred to the work that has been done along with SOMOSGAY. She mentioned the importance of "breaking the hypocrisy and double speech to which the society is accustomed to.
The words of the Councilor Rocio Casco, who spoke on the ordinance presented in Asuncion, initiative supported by SOMOSGAY.
The parade along the streets finalized at the Plaza de la Democracia, with the act in which the TV presenter and journalist Daniela Candia acted as MC. Daniela is an ally of the cause and important collaborator to SOMOSGAY in other opportunities, such as the talk to the media and homophobia organized a year ago.
The ceremony was marked by the euphoria of the position reached by the soccer team among the eight best teams in the World Cup to be held in South Africa. The team went further that it was expected and therefore giving testimony to the effort and spirit of relentless fight that we share as the guarani nation.
SOMOSGAY stresses its firm objective to achieve legal and social equality to all paraguayans, confronting homophobia and bringing down the walls based on sexual orientation and gender identity that hinder the full enjoyment of rights to all people.