Despite the Economic Crisis, Gay Parade Fills Hotels in São Paulo

06/05/2015 - 09h45

With less money than anticipated, the Gay Parade in São Paulo is reaching its 19th edition on Sunday, June 7th. With budget constraints, the city will invest US$414,000 out of US$638,000 on the event.

Even so, both the organizers and the hospitality industry expect that numbers stay at a similar rate to previous years.

According to Bruno Omori, President of the Brazilian Association of Hotels in the State of São Paulo, the occupancy rate at the weekend should be between 85% and 90% in budget hotels around Paulista Avenue and downtown São Paulo.

Despite the bleak moment for the national economy, the numbers are not different from previous years, Omori said.

According to Fernando Quaresma, president of the Association of LGBT Pride Parade, which organizes the event, cutting the budget hampered the organization of work.

"It was a year in which we expected progress, but we had this cut, even though the mayor, Fernando Haddad (Worker's Party), promised to keep the original budget," he says.

This year the theme of the 19th edition of the Gay Parade will be "I was born this way, I grew up so I will always be like this: respect me." The idea, organizers say, is to rescue the joy of LGBT people, amid daily homophobic violence.

Eighteen music trucks will parade on Paulista Avenue. In one of them, actresses of the HBO series "Orange is the New Black" will be present, including Natasha Lyonne (Nicky Nichols), Uzo Aduba (Crazy Eyes) and Samira Wiley (Poussey).

Brazilian singer Valesca Popozuda announced that she will also parade on the same music truck.

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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	J.Duran Machfee/Folhapress
	The Gay Parade in São Paulo is reaching its 19th edition on Sunday, June 7th