Lima rainbow flag march celebrates 20 years of LGTBI activism
Lima, Jun 25 (EFE).- Thousands of people with rainbow outfits and banners marched in downtown Lima, after three years due to the restrictions of the pandemic, to demand respect for the rights of the LGBTI community in the country and celebrate 20 years of activism in a pride parade.
The group organized Saturday’s mobilization through the streets of the historic center of Lima with the slogan of celebrating its 20 years “being visible and demanding that the state attend to our various demands, but above all respect our citizenship in a country where our rights are run over all the time.”
With batucada music and songs by artists considered icons of the gay community, such as the Mexican Gloria Trevi and the Italian Rafaella Carra, hundreds of young people and adults joined the five blocks of protesters who completed the mobilization, dancing, singing and carrying huge rainbow flags.
“Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Trans and Intersex will travel through the streets of Lima with joy and creativity but above all with the firmness that our presence in the streets is vital for us to continue advancing in the conquest of our rights,” they said.
The attendees carried signs that said “love has no gender,” “love has no creed or sexual preference” and a group of parents showed another sign that said “I love my gay son and I am proud.”
Among the groups of protesters there were also representatives of various embassies in Lima, such as the United Kingdom, and student centers, such as the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, which had a group that identified itself as members of “diverse and combative San Marcos.”
Under the cry of “It’s going to fall, and it’s going to fall, homophobia is going to fall,” thousands of young people entered the central Plaza San Martín, the end point of the march and where a stage was set up to offer a show, art and concert for young people.
The Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations posted on Twitter to support “all LGTBI people”, as well as the promotion of “respect for their rights” and the celebration of “their diversity,” at the same time to place the colors of the movement in its logo.
The Minister for Women, Diana Miloslavic, sent her greetings to the LGTBI community in Peru that “with their struggles continues to bet on a democratic country with rights for all, all, all.”
The Foreign Ministry said it was committed to “continue building a more egalitarian, inclusive society, without discrimination or violence and that values diversity,” through a message on Twitter.
The Health Ministry implemented an HIV screening and vaccination campaign against covid-19 in the park where the protesters gathered before marching, as well as a counseling and information service for the LGTBI community. EFE
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