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Annual Sao Paulo Gay Parade Again Marred by Violence and Substance Abuse

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

SÃO PAULO, May 28, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) — Brazil’s annual “Gay Parade”, which boasts the largest turnout of any such event worldwide, was again marred by violent crime and substance abuse.

Numerous robberies and thefts, mostly of cameras, cell phones, and wallets, were reported by marchers at the event, which was held last Sunday.  Drug abuse was “explicit” according to the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, particularly the use of the aphrodisiac drug “ecstasy”.

“This year the violence was worse than previous years,” marcher Marina Goncalves, 25, told Folha de Sao Paulo.  “They stole my cell phone and my camera.  There were two policemen there and neither of them saw the robbery.  I don’t think I’m coming back.”

Folha reports that by 4 pm, over 200 people had been treated for health problems, mostly caused by overconsumption of alcohol.  Almost 150 robberies were reported by marchers following the event.

Other incidents included a group of homosexual protestors attempting to “invade” the press area.  In the chaos, one man was run over by a float and his leg had to be amputated.

In contrast, the Brazilian media reported no criminal incidents during the March for Jesus, held in the same city on May 22.  Over one million people attended.

Also in a repetition of the events of last year, homosexual groups inflated the Gay Parade’s numbers dramatically.  While police estimated that over three million people had attended (a threefold increase over last year’s estimate), parade organizers initially gave a figure of five million.

Brazil’s federal government gave financial assistance to the event, although the total sum has not been reported in the Brazilian press.  The government of socialist president Luiz Lula has a pro-homosexuality policy that subsidizes the movement’s activities throughout the country, and is seeking to pass a “homophobia” law that will silence opponents of sodomy.

Related LifeSiteNews.com Coverage:

English-Language Media Wildly Overestimated Brazil Gay Pride Numbers, Underestimated Pro-Family March
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jun/07061501.html

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