São Paulo Gay Pride (officially called La Parada do Orgulho GLBT de São Paulo) is an annual pride celebration that colors the city’s streets every June. The São Paulo Gay Pride Parade first began in 1997 with approximately 2,000 participants, but it is now recognized as the largest pride parade in the world, attracting three to five million participants each year. This makes it the largest pride parade in South America, and the Guinness Book of World Records even claims that it was the largest pride parade in the world from 2006 to 2016. The dating app Grindr also recognized it as the best pride in the world, so is it really a reason not to attend?
Every year, São Paulo Gay Pride includes an incredible parade that goes down Paulista Avenue and usually takes place on the Sunday after Corpus Christi. While the first Pride gathering took place in 1997, the first gay pride in São Paulo, officially organized by APOGLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Association), took place in 1999. The organization’s ongoing motivation comes from the collective struggle for a more just and inclusive society that recognizes equal rights and condemns any form of discrimination based on age, orientation, gender, or race.
In addition to the pride parade, a number of LGBTQ-related events and activities take place during São Paulo Gay Pride. In fact, although the official schedule is for five days, events in the city start happening three weeks before the last weekend. Expect everything from concerts, dance performances, fairs, street markets, and queer debates and performances. So whether you like the idea of taking part in queer fun or you’re already planning to attend the São Paulo Pride Parade, there’s always something for everyone at São Paulo Gay Pride.