The celebration of International LGBTI Pride Day is celebrated this Sunday (28.06.2020) in different parts of the world despite the coronavirus pandemic. Many stayed at home to commemorate this day safely, without exposing themselves to contagion risks and following the Global Pride online broadcast, with a 24-hour transmission.
However, some defied the measures imposed by governments and moved to the streets to commemorate this day, which has been celebrated since 1969 and originated in the United States, as a movement for homosexual liberation.
In Spain, the Barcelona City Council has deployed on its balcony a pendant with the colors of the rainbow on the occasion of the Day of Pride and Liberation LGTBI. The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, also claimed the rights of this group “against those who question them” and undertakes to continue working to “achieve real equality and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity”.
In Italy, Gay Pride has been claimed in several cities, such as Bologna, Naples or Milan, with several virtual and physical encounters, albeit without agglomerations by the coronavirus pandemic, and has called for advances as a law against homophobia that will soon come to Parliament. The mayor of Milan (north), Beppe Sala, illuminated the town hall last night with the Rainbow flag and assured that his is a city “of inclusion, rights and humanity”. Italy has also joined the “Global Pride 2020” initiative online with singer Titian Ferro, declared homosexual, and transgender activist Vladimir Luxuria as ambassadors.
In Germany there was a demonstration in Berlin, of around 3,500 people during Saturday’s day according to police sources, despite high temperatures. Organizers said there were about 1,000 people. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also had words for this commemoration: “Be proud of you, no matter who you love, no matter where you live,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
Meanwhile, in Vienna, Austria, around 200 cars and motorcycles adorned with rainbow flags and inflatable unicorns paraded along the famous Ringstrasse on Saturday afternoon. Organizers said around 5,000 people attended the event. The Vienna Rainbow Parade, which normally attracts hundreds of thousands of people, was replaced by online events.
In Argentina, public buildings and monuments will be illuminated in the colors of the rainbow of the gay rights movement. Local activists have organized a week of online events, although gay Pride is normally held in November.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, some 200 people marched along Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City’s main avenue, breaking the rules to help contain the pandemic that has killed more than 25,000 people in the country.
In addition, around 300 people gathered in Taipei to celebrate the world pride day of the LGTBI collective. The motto of the march, which unfolded in Freedom Square, was “Taiwan Pride Parade for the World”.
In the face of the coronavirus’s suspension of demonstrations in other capitals, the organizers had distributed among the participants posters to write the name of a city on the planet they wanted to represent.
