Pride Takes the Street

Get to know the world’s largest LGBT+ Pride Parade

In 1997, one of the most amazing chapters in the fight for the rights of the LGBT+ population begun. At Paulista Avenue, the city’s financial center, the first São Paulo LGBT+ Pride Parade took place. 
From its first edition, with a few hundred attendees, it became the biggest demonstration by the LGBT+ population in the world. It was the catalyst of a process that, over the next years, triggered a wave of achievements for the community. 
The Parade represents a genuine, democratic space of vindication, visibility, and celebration of PRIDE to the city, or better yet, to the whole country. 
This exhibit was inspired by the 2018 show “Com Muito Orgulho!” [“And Proud of It!”] at the Museum of Sexual Diversity.

Todas as cores na Paulista (2015-06-07) by João BenzMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

We won’t go back in the closet!

Levante a bandeira do orgulho LGBT (2017-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Our PRIDE is the opposite of the feeling of shame so characteristic of the LGBT-phobic oppression that permeates LGBT experiences. From its very first years, the Parade has grown exponentially and gathered millions of people to celebrate diversity and the pride of being who they are.

L G B T (2017-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Unidxs pelo orgulho (2014-05-04) by João BenzMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Painting the street with rainbows

Annually, the Parade occupies Paulista Avenue, one of the most emblematic spaces in the city of São Paulo, aiming, above all, to celebrate LGBT+ Pride. This way, it ends up shedding light on the outcasts and making it possible for them to occupy and resignify the public space where they are so often victims of LGBT-phobic violence.

Público da 18ª Parada do Orgulho LGBT de São Paulo (2014-05-04) by Joca DuarteMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Bandeira de Todxs (2014-05-04) by Joca DuarteMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Beijo sob o bandeirão (2015-06-07) by Carla CarnielMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Being LGBT+ is a political act

Esse close também é Brasil (2006-06-17)Museu da Diversidade Sexual

This, too, is Brazil

The crowd that goes to the Parade challenges certain associations of gender, sexuality, and national identity that assume the heterosexual family as a fundamental social institution. It does so by making it clear that the Parade goers—to the discomfort of certain conservative groups—also make up Brazil.

Mexe as cadeiras do Brasil (2014-05-04) by Joca DuarteMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Deixa a gira do Orgulho LGBT+ girar (2017-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Participante com fantasia de penas (2017-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Isso aqui também é Brasil (2017-06-15) by Janaína LeãoMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Somos todxs Brasil (2014-05-04) by Joca DuarteMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Público ocupa a Paulista na 21ª Parada do Orgulho LGBT (2017-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

A crowd of many colors

From the mid-1990s, in Brazil, strategies geared to massive, positive visibility have become central to the LGBT+ movement, with the Parades as their maximum example.

Annually, the São Paulo LGBT+ Pride Parade, one of the largest celebrations of diversity in the world, gathers a crowd at Paulista Avenue.

The Parade is a demonstration that unites fun and the assertion of rights, fostering a great visibility and showing we are many and diverse.

Multiplicando identidades (2015-06-07) by Gabriela Di BelloMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Multiplying Identities

Multiplicando Identidades (2015-06-07) by Gabriela Di BellaMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

The diversity of identities and bodies is a striking feature of the Parade.

Multiplicando Identiddes (2015-06-07) by Gabriela Di BellaMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Throughout its history of over 20 years, the demonstration has grown.

Multiplicando Identidades (2015-06-07) by Gabriela Di BellaMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

It has included new causes and welcomed various groups.

Multiplicando identidades (2015-06-07) by Gabriela Di BellaMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

It has consolidated as one of the most democratic and important events in São Paulo.

Viviany Beleboni crucificada na Parada (2015-06-07) by Carla CarnielMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Orgulho Trans (2015-06-07) by João BenzMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

We Exist and Resist

Mães pela Diversidade (2015-06-07) by João BenzMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

It its history of over 40 years, the Brazilian LGBT+ movement has undergone several transformations and enjoyed important achievements.

Punks (2015-06-08) by João BenzMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Most of them came from the Judiciary body: the recognition of equal civil marriage, the criminalisation of LGBT-phobia, and, more recently, the recognition of trans identities.

Censuradxs (2017-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Currently, a strong conservative reaction has been trying to make these achievements invisible, aiming to weaken public policies about gender equality and dissident sexualities.

Doritos (2017-06-18) by Janaína LeãoMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Love one another

Afeto e amor na 21ª Parada do Orgulho LGBT (2017-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Though we have the largest LGBT+ Pride Parade in the world, Brazil still boasts an alarming number of LGBT+ murders.

Só Love na 22ª Parada do Orgulho LGBT (2018-06-03) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

In 2017, according to data from the Gay Group of Bahia, we had a record 445 people murdered by LGBT-phobia.

Sense8 na Parada do Orgulho (2016-05-28) by Carla CarnielMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Because of this, a lot of LGBT+ people still feel unsafe demonstrating their love in public, for fear of being harassed and assaulted. In this context, the Parade is a moment when love is celebrated in its various forms.

Parem de nos matar (2018-06-18) by Adriana de MaioMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Credits: Story

O ORGULHO OCUPA A RUA

Pesquisa e textos: João Filipe Cruz
Pesquisa e catalogação: Leonardo Arouca e Wellington Luiz Ferreira

Associação da Parada do Orgulho GLBT de São Paulo - ONG APOGLBT SP
Claudia Regina dos Santos Garcia - Presidente
Renato Viterbo – Vice-Presidente
Diego Oliveira - Secretário
Neusa Maria de Jesus - Secretária
Silmara Souza Santos – Tesoureira
Gilson Rodrigues – Tesoureiro

Diretoria Adjunta Willian Martins Adriana da Silva Ricardo Marchioro
Conselho Fiscal Wagner Pires Heide Oliveira
Conselho de Sócios Fundadores Nelson Mathias Reinaldo Damião

As imagens desta exposição fazem parte dos acervos da APOLGBT SP e do Museu da Diversidade Sexual

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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