On Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th, hundreds of thousands of people across Latin America took to the streets to celebrate International LGBT+ Pride Day. In Argentina, where the celebration takes place in November, theNinth Plurinational March Against Transvesticide, Transfemicide, and Transhomicide. Presentes was present in the streets of Asunción, Lima, and Mexico City, where the demands were diverse: from resistance against the ultraconservative governments of Paraguay and Peru, to the march and counter-march in Mexico City, where protests against global genocides were also held.

#NOW The 46th LGBT+ Pride March begins in Mexico City.

Thousands of people from the LGBTQ+ community are gathering to start the parade from the Angel of Independence to the Zócalo. #Pride2024 #Mexico

🤳 @milenapafundi @ginxglez @montserrattsm @KatiaRee pic.twitter.com/r6zl81CqPD

— Presentes Agency (@PresentesLatam) June 29, 2024

A new network in Asunción

In Asunción, the first counter-march of Pride Day, organized by the Paraguayan Network of LGBTQ+ Artists (Repar), took place. Under the slogan "Reborn in Unity," hundreds of people gathered at 4:00 p.m. at the Antequera Steps, a historic site of struggle and resistance, and marched toward Democracy Plaza. There, more than 60 artists presented a festival featuring a parade, music, dance, and ballroom performance. 

Diverse youth groups marched with friends and family, parents carrying signs that read “Mom loves you in all your colors” and “Dad’s hug and love for everyone.” Juanma Talavera, from Inclusive Christians, said: “I march because hate is overcome with love, and we must always stand up and march for all our rights.” 

Repar stated that, in Paraguay, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face significant barriers to accessing its human rights. They listed the lack of legal recognition of non-heterosexual couples, discrimination in access to essential services, and the lack of cultural, social, and economic recognition of LGBTQ+ artists. 

“We face a conservative and authoritarian government that frequently disregards our needs and rights. We march to reclaim our dignity and demand equality and justice,” they stated in their manifesto. Hugo González, president of Repar, explained that the organization arose from a need to highlight art in Paraguayan society. 

#NOW in 🇵🇾 The LGBTTIQ+ Pride March has begun!

People of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities are marching in Asunción from the Antequera Steps to Democracy Square 🌈✨️ pic.twitter.com/EaLzj2gEYw

— Presentes Agency (@PresentesLatam) June 29, 2024

“This 2024 we are making history here in Paraguay. Many organizations support us and today we have a stage shining with all the artists from our country. Art is a powerful tool with which we can transform lives,” said González. 

When the march reached Plaza de la Democracia, Yren Rotela, human rights defender and founder of Casa Diversa Casa Trans, announced the creation of a new political movement for the municipal elections: Paraguay Diverso.

Organizations such as Casa Diversa, Repadis, Panambi, TEDIC, the Juan de Salazar Spanish Cultural Center, La Chispa, and others supported the mobilization, but there were also many self-organized individuals who marched independently. However, it wasn't the only Pride march that took place on Saturday. 

Earlier, as every year, SomosGay celebrated the Paraguay Pride 2024 Parade, under the slogan Roguata Tekoporã Rapere (We walk the path of good). Its leaders condemned President Santiago Peña's homophobic stance before the OAS and lamented his continued failure to recognize the rights of all people.

At 1:00 PM, they gathered in Plaza de la Libertad and marched to the intersection of Independencia Nacional and Manduvirá streets. Free HIV testing and PrEP were distributed. Downtown Asunción was abuzz with celebration all afternoon. 

The diversity of diversity in Mexico City

Mexico City hosted the 46th LGBTTTIQ+ Pride March, with over 260,000 people from the LGBTQ+ community gathering to celebrate visibility and pride, but also to continue demanding and protesting the violence faced by LGBTQ+ people. In the context of genocide occurring in Palestine, South Sudan, Congo, Yemen, Haiti, and Tigray, and in response to pinkwashing, a counter-march was organized with the slogan "With genocide, there is no pride."

The meeting point for everyone was at 10am at the Angel of Independence. The classic floats, and those usually carrying the brands, were far behind and distanced from the walking march that headed towards the zócalo in the format of a march but also a parade since thousands of people stayed on the sides watching the contingents pass by, singing to them and celebrating.

Within the march were various contingents, among them the Dissident Bloc made up of Vihve Libre, Lleca, and Racismo MX, older trans women, who carried the slogans: “Comprehensive Law for Trans People” and “Classification of Transfemicide.” They ended at the Mexico City Congress with the coffin they carried as an act of remembrance for the 31 trans people murdered so far in 2024. Also participating was a group of people with disabilities, proudly displaying their identity. As one of its members stated, “We owe no one hegemony over our bodies; we also have sex, we can also be part of the diverse sexualities, and we like to experience pleasure.” Intersex people marched alongside this group.

The Mexican folklore contingent, made up of Muxes, brought color and music. The trans women's group "Mariposas Negras" (Black Butterflies) set up their usual market stall alongside the parade route. Many diverse batucada and drum groups played throughout the march, and the Puteril contingent of sex workers joined CLAP. The Bisexual contingent was particularly large this year, carrying big flags and many people. There were also groups from social organizations like Yaaj and Cuenta Conmigo, and of course, families of missing LGBTQ+ people. On the floats, you could see Mexican cowboys: new generation, norteños, bears, and more. 

The march was incredibly diverse, and one particularly striking feature was the number of families chosen to carry signs of support, as well as mothers, fathers, siblings, and aunts and uncles supporting and marching with their LGBT+ family members. 

Within the Counter-March there were Jewish people with Palestinian identity, trans women, non-binary people, lesbians, bisexuals, gay men, transmasculine people who also marched and demanded remembrance for the 31 trans and dissident people murdered this year and for a ceasefire.

For 100 years of decriminalization

In Lima, some 50,000 LGBTQI+ people, family members, and allies marched to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Peru. This was the theme chosen for the 22nd edition of the Lima Pride March. For the second year in a row, the route had to be changed due to the conservative stance of the current mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliaga. 

This year, the Lima Pride March collective declared the Peruvian Ministry of Health persona non grata. This was due to a supreme decree issued in May that labeled transgender people as having "mental disorders" because of their gender identity. The Ministry was forced to retract this decree this month.

#Now The Pride March has begun in Lima. Unlike other years, there's a large police presence at the front, mostly female officers.#Peru #Pride2024 pic.twitter.com/FQg9UsCIYf

— Presentes Agency (@PresentesLatam) June 29, 2024

As part of the strategies of the National Police of Peru, the march was led by a contingent of 50 female police officers.

The Pride March began at Campo de Marte, proceeded along Guzmán Blanco, Alfonso Ugarte, Nicolás de Piérola, Garcilaso de la Vega, and La Peruanidad avenues, and returned to Campo de Marte, where the main artistic performance took place. However, Lima's LGBTQ+ community misses the historic Plaza San Martín, a space that has been their home for many years and which they consider their own.

It's worth noting that this year 35 cities will hold demonstrations to showcase their pride, but above all, to demand access to their rights; so far, 32 have already taken to the streets. Next Saturday, July 6th, Pride Month for Peruvians will conclude with demonstrations in Barranca, Chiclayo, and the imperial city of Cusco.