Rainbow colours and war cries have rung out at the centre of Montevideo as Uruguayans gathered for the annual LGBT pride parade wearing masks undeterred by the pandemic that did not prevent a large turnout.
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A gigantic rainbow flag and three vehicles with mobile DJs and dance music accompanied the march on Friday along the Libertador avenue, as thousands of people demanded an end to discrimination against the LGBTIQ community and celebrated their rights under the slogan "Pride is fight".
Protest chants such as "el Estado opresor es un macho violador" (the oppressive state is a misogynist rapist) and dance routines along with protest songs such as "Todos me miran" (Everyone stares at me) rang out on the streets.
Dances by drag queens were accompanied by the waving of flags, umbrellas, and colourful handkerchiefs during the march, and the participants carried placards with slogans such as "Homophobia is worse than COVID," "It doesn't matter who you are in love," and "Sexual pleasure is the revolution".
Despite a relatively low prevalence of COVID-19 in Uruguay, which has registered around 2000 cases and 47 deaths so far, organisers held both physical and virtual pride events to observe preventive measures.
Most of the participants followed instructions by the coordinating committee of Uruguay Pride - which includes 19 social groups - to wear masks.
Australian Associated Press
