![nyc gay pride parade 2011 nyc gay pride parade 2011](https://media.guestofaguest.com/t_article_content/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/201106_pride5.jpg)
Rodrigo Nanjari and his partner Jaime Munoz each brought their mothers to the rally to support them and their demand to have equal rights. Meanwhile, others marched hand-in-hand with their mothers. The event also attracted families with some marchers even carrying their kids on their shoulders. The Acuerdo de Vida en Común (AVC) project, which is still under debate, aims to establish civil unions for unmarried couples, regardless of sex, and grant them nearly all legal rights of married couples in terms of security, inheritance and health benefits. The fight for civil unions took a higher precedence than usual after Chile’s government took on the issue this fall. “The situation here in Chile is that homosexuals still have very little acceptance by society because it’s a very conservative state with a very influential Catholic Church,” she said. She said homosexuals are still seen as “sick people.” Together, the group marched from Plaza Italia to Paseo Bulnes, singing along to American pop star Lady Gaga, cheering on a group of drag queens dancing on top an 18-wheeler and shouting slogans in support of civil unions.Īndrea Orellana, 37, said despite Saturday’s strong turnout, Chile still has a long way to go.
![nyc gay pride parade 2011 nyc gay pride parade 2011](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/08/was4037773155102-1024x693.jpg)
The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh), the rally’s organizer, was also demanding an anti-discrimination law to protect LGBT Chileans and recognition of civil unions for homosexual couples, a campaign promise of President Sebastián Piñera. The march celebrated gay pride and sought to galvanize support for Chile’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. “I’m here to continue fighting for our rights so that people understand us and accept us,” Alejandro Soto, 26, said. With drag queens stomping in their stilettos and adults, teens and children waving rainbow flags, more than 50,000 people paraded through Santiago de Chile on Saturday in support of gay rights in the annual March for Sexual Diversity. The march sought to galvanize support for Chile’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.