São Paulo, May 18, 2008  –  The world’s largest Gay Pride – São Paulo – is to “twin” with Moscow Pride, it was announced yesterday.

And Moscow Pride organiser, Nikolai Alekseev will be flying in from Russia this week to take part, and to receive the Brazillian Pride’s “Citizen Award for Respecting Diversity” in a ceremony on Thursday afternoon.

In ten years, São Paulo’s LGBT Pride Parade has developed from 2000 people in 1997 to being the largest public event of its kind in the world. It unquestionably contributes to generate more respect for diversity, and is considered a benchmark for social movements in Brazil, proving that to be political one need not forsake irreverence and spontaneity.

Activities range from the festive, grandiose Pride Parade along Avenida Paulista, that invariably gives a splash of colour to the front page of the major Brazilian newspapers and fills TV screens across the country, to more discreet series of workshops and debates in faraway working class districts of the city, that spread awareness of LGBT human rights and STD/Aids prevention to those who previously did not have access to such knowledge.

Organisers of the Pride, Associação da Parada do Orgulho GLBT (LGBT Pride Parade Association – APOGLBT), have decided on “Homophobia Kills! Defending the Secular State” as the theme for this year.

“The presence of [Nikolai Alekseev] will strengthen our fight against homophobia … and for Senate approval of a law criminalising homophobie,” a spokesperson a APOGLBT says.

The proposed law is being fiercely resisted by religious politicians.

São Paulo Pride is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world –around four million people in the city is a sight to behold.

Moscow is not the only Pride to be honoured by São Paulo.  Jerusalem and Open House also gets the nod.

Both Pride Parades face strong opposition from public officials, religious leaderships and conservative groups.

“We consider that the two Pride Parades are the best examples of homophobia in all the world and their organizers and participants represent our best hopes in construction of a world with more justice and respect to the human rights, as well the guarantee of citizenship of LGBT population,” the spokesperson said

“We hope this alliance can help them in their local struggle, summing more this support for a better condition in the next Pride Parades.”