Brazilians march for Pride

Swathes of Brazilians took to the streets of the capital Sao Paolo for one of the world's biggest gay pride marches. Participants carried a giant rainbow flag as they marched, while 19 moving stages entertained the crowd with live performances by well-known Brazilian artists. LGBT+ activists gave speeches encouraging resistance to the conservative politics that have taken over Brazil.

While the Pride march is usually a time for celebration, this year, many participants said they were attending because they are concerned that their freedoms were increasingly under threat. "I came to fight against homophobia and disrespect," said 31-year-old Monique Barber, who said she had experienced verbal attacks at the start of the march.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Brazil since May 2013, but many people fear the views of recently elected President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain who took office in January. Bolsonaro once described himself as a "proud homophobe." He has said he would rather have a dead son than a gay son, and he has told reporters Brazil "can't be a country of the gay world, of gay tourism."

Many also expressed their support for jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, who is currently serving a 12-year sentence for numerous corruption charges. Lula's face could be seen on the giant rainbow flag that was carried down the street as well as on participant's clothing. One man draped himself in a flag that said "free Lula."

Most recently, LGBT activists in Brazil won a major battle in July when Brazil's Supreme Court voted to criminalize discrimination against homosexuals and transgender people. Bolsonaro criticized the ruling as "totally wrong." He said the decision would hurt LGBT people because employers would be less likely to hire them out of fear that they could be taken to court "if they make a joke."