The Gay Pride Parade (in Bogota, Colombia) that marched down the heart of the downtown of the city, 7th Avenue, and ended in the Plaza Mayor, the seat of government of the city and the country, exceeded all expectations as a political, cultural and social event in the fast-changing cosmopolitan city of Bogota.
Floats from LGBT rights organizations, as well as clubs and other businesses the cater to the gay community spread the word of gay pride to the onlookers from all walks of life - gay, lesbian, straight, questioning or just plan curious. All classes of persons mixed in the fun in the peaceful march which became a party as the music energized the mostly younger crowd which sang and chanted in unison as the parade made its way through the wide boulevard that became a smaller street in the more historic downtown. Traffic was stopped for quite a while as the crowd overflowed into other lanes and streets. At the end, a rally sent the message of the right to safety, protection and to live proudly as members of the LGBT community as the institutions of Colombia society, the capital, the Supreme Court, and the Cathedral, stood around, as if a natural part of the scene.
Surely this was the largest gay pride event in Colombian history, and one of the largest in L
atin America as well. The Colombian LGBT community has much to be proud about as the Supreme Court in this past year has recognized same sex relationships as worthy of the same rights as those of opposite-gender ones. Gay people have achieved much attention in recent years in Colombian life and society, although the local paper reported the next day that there had been threats as well. No violence was in evidence, although many revelers did not linger in the main plaza (or did not attend the rally altogether) perhaps due to the unusual nature of having a gay pride event in front of the seat of power of the country. Colombia is a historically conservative and traditional country. Clearly, things are changing - how fast remains to be scene, but the combination of recent legal developments, combined with one of the best and largest gay pride events on the continent certainly puts Colombia well on the map of LGBT life!
Fore more information about travel to Colombia, check our our website,
www.VamosColombiaTour.com
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