The São Paulo City Council approved, on Wednesday (20), a bill that could change the location where the LGBT+ Pride Parade is held and prohibit the presence of children and teenagers at the event.
The text, authored by councilor Rubinho Nunes (União Brasil-SP), was approved in a symbolic vote, with 45 votes in favor and 10 against, but it will still need to be voted on in two rounds in the plenary for it to be sent for sanction or veto by Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB-SP).
The proposal foresees restrictions even for minors accompanied by guardians and requires that future Parade events take place in closed spaces. The text establishes cumulative fines for each infraction, which, together, can reach up to R$1 million in case of non-compliance.
“The occupation and closure of public roads for the holding of the events referred to in this Law is prohibited, which must be held in a closed space properly designed for the gathering of people”, highlights an excerpt from the document.
Currently, São Paulo’s LGBT+ Pride Parade is considered the largest in the world. The event, which this year celebrates its 30th edition and has the theme “The street calls, the ballot box confirms”, has occupied Avenida Paulista for 29 years, following the route with trams and blocks of protesters.
Last year, the event brought together an estimated audience of 4 million people, including tourists of different nationalities. According to the city of São Paulo, the event generated more than R$548 million in the São Paulo economy.
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In a statement, ParadaSP, the organization responsible for organizing the event, highlighted that Rubinho Nunes’ proposal is “visibly unconstitutional, LGBTphobic, and raises concerns in relation to constitutional rights linked to free expression, family coexistence and the democratic occupation of public space”. The group states that, despite the text, the Parade will continue on the streets, “occupying this space as a territory of citizenship, diversity and freedom”.
