With a huge ballot box hugging Avenida Paulista and lots of fan flapping, the São Paulo LGBT+ Pride Parade takes place this Sunday (7) on Avenida Paulista, bringing together a crowd of people. Completing 30 years of existence, the event adopted as its theme this year 30 Years Parade SP: The street calls, the ballot box confirms, proposing a debate on the importance of voting and democratic participation in defending the rights of the LGBT+ population. LGBT+ Pride Parade, photo: Elaine Cruz/Agência Brasil The first edition of the São Paulo LGBT+ Pride Parade took place in 1996, at Praça Roosevelt and, only in the following year, it began to occupy Avenida Paulista, where it became established. Since then, the parade has always taken to the streets the discussion of fundamental topics such as the recognition of stable unions, the right to gender identity, adoption by same-sex couples and the criminalization of LGBTphobia, among others. Last year, for example, the discussion was about aging. Related news: SP 2026 LGBT+ Pride Parade will address the importance of voting. LGBT+ Pride Parade takes debate about aging to the streets of SP. Today is a milestone for us because all the rights we have today for the LGBT+ population passed through Avenida Paulista”, said Matheus Emílio Pereira da Silva, director of the São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade Association (APOLGBT-SP). “In 2005 we discussed the right to a stable union and, a decade later, this was recognized by the STF [Supreme Federal Court]. We have already discussed the criminalization of LGBT phobia. In 2006 we brought up this topic and, later, the STF also recognized this, equating the issue of LGBTphobia with the crime of racism. We talk about the rights of the trans population, the right to donate blood, the right to adoption. All of these were topics that, before being in court, passed through Avenida Paulista. So, this shows the importance of the São Paulo Parade in these three decades of struggles”, reinforced Silva. Despite many achievements, the director of Parada SP reinforces that there is still a path to be pursued. We still need a commitment from our Legislature to guarantee these rights in the letter of the law – and not just with judicial decisions as we currently have, he said. Therefore, this year, the Parade takes the elections as its theme. “It is important for us to talk about this to raise awareness among our population, especially LGBT+ people, to that they elect and vote for people committed to the rights of the LGBT population and society as a whole, who do not legislate for themselves, but for the people”, stated Silva. Less sponsorship A little smaller this year due to the reduction in sponsorship, ParadaSP takes to the streets with 14 electric trios, parading along Avenida Paulista and Rua da Consolação, until reaching Praça da República. According to the event organizers, there was a 60% reduction in revenue from sponsors this year, which affected not only the organization of the Parade, but also the social and cultural actions promoted by APOLGBT-SP. With less sponsorship, there has been a reduction in the number of electric trios that will parade along Avenida Paulista this year: there will only be 14, compared to 17 that paraded last year. In 2023, the Parade paraded with 19 electric trios. Despite this, many people arrived early at Avenida Paulista to watch the event. The demonstration began at 10am today and was attended by artists such as Pabllo Vittar, Urias, Gloria Groove, Pepita, Diego Martins, Jup do Bairro, Melody, MC Soffia, Isma, Katy da Voz e As Abusadas, MC Trans, Zumbicore and Thiago Pantaleão, as well as the Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Janine Mello. “The Ministry of Human Rights has been present at the Parade. The one in São Paulo is the largest in the world, so it's a joy for us to be here. And this year the Ministry is running a campaign, Brazil is of All Colors: For All People, and for us it is important to remember and highlight to the Brazilian population the need to guarantee the rights of the LGBT population”, said the minister, in an interview with Agência Brasil during the event. “We have a series of policies aimed at the different dimensions of the LGBTQIA+ population. We have from policies linked to empowerment and productive inclusion, to welcoming policies in moments of vulnerability. And we recently sent the National LGBT Rights Policy to the National Congress, which will cover different dimensions, including addressing violence against LGBTQIA+ people”, added the minister. According to the National Secretary for the Rights of LGBTQIA+ People, Symmy Larrat, also present at the event, the ministry developed a technical agreement with the Ministry of Justice and the National Council of Justice (CNJ) that will begin to produce government data on violence against the LGBT+ population. “And, from there, we will build more institutional protocols that help throughout the process, from receiving the complaint, to investigation and the justice system”, he explained. Photo gallery - LGBT+ Pride Parade (SP)., by Bruno.Fernandes