Organisers say the march is the world's biggest Gay Pride parade
Crowds carrying rainbow flags danced through one of the main avenues, as floats blasted music from loudspeakers.
Organisers said nearly two million people were at the march. If the figure is confirmed, that makes the parade the biggest of its kind in the world.
The event's managers said the parade was not just a party, but also a demonstration for equal rights.
One of the parade organisers, Antonio Carlos da Silva, told the BBC Brazil had a long way to go in overcoming homophobia.
"This is a very macho country, especially some parts of the country," he said.
"We also rank first in violence against gays so from gay bashing to murder we have a lot of problems in this country."
Another organiser, Pedro Almeida, told AFP news agency: "A homosexual is murdered here every two days - just for being homosexual."
Demanding equal rights
Gay, lesbian and bisexual Brazilians were joined by about 400,000 visitors from around the world for the ninth annual parade along Avenida Paulista.
The Roman Catholic Church opposes gay marriage in the country, which is the world's largest Catholic nation.
"We have the same commitments, we want the same rights," a banner read.
"It is not easy in our daily lives," a drag queen named Paola said.
"We have to end the prejudices that society has against us."
2004 Gay Pride Parade in Brazil. The number of participants increases every year. Photo:Rose Brasil - ABr


In what may possibly be the largest Gay Pride parade in the world, hundreds of thousands of people marched along the streets of São Paulo, Brazil today in the Parada do Orgulho GLBT de São Paulo.  Many marchers were demanding the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Brazil is the largest Roman Catholic country on Earth, and the Roman Catholic Church has consistently opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage in the country.  The National Congress of Brazil has debated legalization for 10 years, and such civil marriages are currently only legal in Rio Grande do Sul.  The original bill was drafted by former mayor of São Paulo, Marta Suplicy.  The proposed legislation, after being amended, is now in the hands of Roberto Jefferson.  Protesters hope to collect a petition of 1.2 million signatures to present to the National Congress in November.

People carrying flags and banners, some dressed in lavish carnival costumes, walked and danced in the ninth annual Gay Pride parade, stretching for 3.5 kilometres along Avenida Paulista.  Traffic was diverted throughout most of the city, and drinks and snacks vendors took advantage of the barriers across many streets.  Prominent people joining the parade were the actor Sergio Mamberti, representing the Culture Minister Gilberto Gil, and senator Eduardo Suplicy.






 Comparative attendance figures



 Event

 Venue

 Attendance



 Gay Pride parade

 San Francisco

 in the 10,000s



 Christopher Street Day

 Berlin

 200,000 – 500,000



 Gay Pride Week parade

 Toronto

 400,000


Organizers stated that 2.5 million people attended, and police stated that there were 1.9 million — figures which would make the event the largest of its kind in the world — including 700,000 visitors from other cities and countries.  This was an increase from 2004, when police stated that 1.5 million people attended.