With thousands of participants, the São Paulo LGBT+ Pride Parade placed the elderly LGBTQIA+ population at the center of the celebration and public debate for the first time in its 29-year history. On the completely packed Avenida Paulista, organizers estimated a crowd of 4 million people and featured 17 electric trios.
The theme was well received by activist Norivaldo Júnior, a member of the National Council for the Rights of the Elderly, linked to the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, who took part in the event with his husband, advertising executive Rodrigo Souza.
“When the parade’s board announced aging as the theme, it brought great joy to us on the council. The LGBT community suffered immense losses in the 1980s and lost many of its references. Today, we are managing — or at least trying — to ensure that this generation lives a better old age than mine,” said Norivaldo Júnior, 62, married to Rodrigo Souza, who is 27 years younger.
“Unfortunately, we have a generation growing up very concerned with body image, and that pushes us back into the closet because they don’t see us — elderly people — as part of the movement. In a way, they don’t accept that one day they will reach my age of 62. This makes us invisible again and forces us to relive many of the struggles we faced in our youth — being kicked out of home, not accepted at school, difficulty finding work. When you reach old age — LGBT old age — you go through this whole cycle again. That’s why it’s so important that this year’s parade is centered on aging,” he added.
To the sound of electronic music and the flapping of fans carried by most participants, the parade brought together friends, couples of all ages, and families in a festive atmosphere. One of the first groups to march was that of trans children’s families — Crianças e Adolescentes Trans Existem —, which has participated in the event for four years. Thamirys Nunes, 35, president of the NGO Minha Criança Trans, is the mother of a 10-year-old trans child and an activist for the rights of children and youth.
“We are here on the streets to say that we are families, like any other family. And we will always be here fighting for our trans sons and daughters and adolescents because, if they need a future, that future starts with recognition,” she said.
Debuting at the event, Argentine German Rocha, also costumed for the occasion, marched enthusiastically. In his old age, he believes it is important to experience São Paulo and support the fight for rights beyond his hometown of Buenos Aires, from where he came with his husband and a friend to join the parade.
“We came to participate in the parade to show that in Argentina, Brazil, and many other places we share the same ideology: defending our rights and achievements, and seeking more revolution and struggle. Latin America will not be defeated,” he declared.
Source: Agência Brasil