Mexico City Gay Pride Parade Draws Thousands

MEXICO CITY – Thousands of Mexicans marched peacefully through central Mexico City in the 31st Gay Pride March at which they demanded improvements in gay rights, watched over by some 1,500 police.

All transpired in calm at Saturday’s parade, Mexico City police department spokesmen said.

The annual march by lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender individuals and transvestites began at midday at the Monument of the Angel of Independence and it ended at the Plaza de la Constitucion later in the afternoon.

The participants this year called for maintaining a “separate” profile weeks before the general elections in which the lower house of Congress will be renewed, six governors and 606 mayors elected.

They also demanded improvements in security, health, sexual education and policies of equality to minimize the problems of discrimination that they still face in Mexico.

As on earlier occasions the group of lesbian-gay civil organizations coordinated the event, at which various groups operated floats with assorted themes defending the rights of homosexuals.

A survey released this week revealed that in Mexico more than 88 percent of the members of the lesbian, gay and transsexual community experience discrimination and even violence.

The poll was conducted by several organizations, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Latin American Center for Sexuality and Human Rights.

Source: Latin American Herald Tribune