Rainbow flags took over Paulista Avenue this Sunday (19) . After two years of interruption due to the pandemic, the LGBT+ Pride Parade returned to fill São Paulo's main thoroughfare — and brought with it a political tone.

With thousands of participants, it was one of the biggest events held in the city since the beginning of the health crisis, in March 2020. Covid caused the cancellation of the last two in-person editions of the Parade.

One of the main attractions of the city, in addition to the diversity of ballads and parties for each letter that makes up the acronym of the community, were pop, funk and axé singers, such as Claudia Leitte, Daniela Mercury, Gloria Groove, Ivete Sangalo, Ludmilla, Luísa Sonza and Pablo Vittar. Most performed at both Micareta and Parada, stacking hit after hit.

The theme chosen for this return to the streets was "Vote with Pride", a reference to the October elections. The organization said that the objective was to hold a non-partisan event, but most of the demonstrations were critical of the current government.

Whether out of fear of breaking the law and being accused of early electoral propaganda, or by choice, there were few singers who declared their support for Lula or explicitly criticized Bolsonaro.

The public allowed itself to forget the future of the country and the political choirs that became the tonic of shows throughout Brazil, to worry only about having fun, whether with triple, quadruple, quintuple kisses, or reproducing the steps of hits like "Sentadona," improvising even the strings around the electric trios as support for booty dancing.

_{Translated by Kiratiana Freelon}

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