Part of the Pride Parade in Caracas passing by the Parque Cristal building in the east of Caracas, July 7, 2024. Photo: Curadas.com
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com) — On Sunday, thousands of people participated in the LGBTQ+ pride parade that started in Miranda Park, eastern Caracas, and ended in the Plaza Venezuela. This event, which takes place simultaneously in 24 states of Venezuela, brings together various organizations and social movements from across the political spectrum with a common goal: to celebrate diversity, demand more equality, and to fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
During the parade held this Sunday, July 7, the main demands of the LGBTQ+ community were the recognition of equal civil unions and the protection of the family in all its variations. Participants carried signs demanding the right to equal marriage, the ability to show affection in public without being discriminated against, respect for human rights, as well as embracing diversity.
Human rights organizations accompanied the march and carried out various activities during its development, such as data collection, surveys and screening for diseases such as HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The motto of this year’s parade was “Our existence is not an outrage to morality,” according to the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTQ+ Violence. This is in reference to a recent incident where a a queer couple was expelled, on June 8, from the “Sambil La Candelaria” shopping center, in Caracas, by a security guard under allegations that other customers were “outraged” by them holding hands.
This incident sparked intense debate on Venezuelan social media, with many defending the right of LGBTQ+ people to not be discriminated against. In response, the owners of the shopping center made a statement explaining that they were not properly informed about the incident, but that they respect “family and moral values.”
This response caused further uproar in the LGBTQ+ community that organized a peaceful demonstration in the shopping mall a few hours later, on Sunday, June 9.
In this Sunday parade, Últimas Noticias reported that Yzamari Matute, one of the organizers, said that “this year, more than ever, we unite as human beings who demand respect and deserve opportunities. We march with joy and awareness, raising the pride flag and defending our fundamental rights… The fact of loving each other, of publicly demonstrating our affection, should not be considered a crime or a threat to social morality. Today, more than ever, we defend the right to non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all.”
She also hopes that Venezuelan society will change and that, in the future, “someone will not be discriminated against because they love someone of the same gender.”
No incidents of violence were reported at the parade where the Venezuelan LGBTQ+ community celebrated its freedom in peace, embodying the value of living with dignity without violence or prejudice. “Only in revolution can we march freely and express our personality without fear,” said one of the organizers as reported by Ultimas Noticias.
“We want to fight for equal marriage in Venezuela, we want to fight so that I can be with my partner, without discrimination, in a shopping centre, eating ice cream and holding hands,” Luis Miguel Urdaneta told EFE.
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Homophobia and social conservatism in Venezuela
In recent times, some Catholic and Protestant conservative religious groups have gained significant political and electoral influence. These groups are campaigning to restrict and delay any sort of civil recognition for the Venezuelan LGBTQ+ community, including the right to equal marriage, the right for transgender people to change their names, and other civil rights against discrimination.
Despite Chavismo’s socialist nature, due to endemic machismo and homophobia as well as religious groups’ growing penetration and influence in politics, some analysts are afraid of a threatening reversal of the minor advances in LGBTQ+ rights achieved during Hugo Chávez’s time. Venezuela is among the few countries in Latin America that have not legalized marriage equality and, unfortunately, a marriage equality bill has been languishing for nearly a decade in the Venezuelan National Assembly.
Recently, some Chavista politicians have been using socially conservative slogans that replicate US conservative approach towards the LGBTQ+ community and promoting so-called “family and traditional values” against what they call the “perversion” of “Western LGBTQ+ values.”
The ruling PSUV has failed to achieve adequate protections for the LGBTQ+ community which is both a failure of its responsibility to the nation and a national security vulnerability that is being exploited by the imperialists.
Enemy countries take advantage
While Chavismo is taking years to finally make laws to grant equal civil rights to the LGBTQ+ community to guarantee a minimal non-discriminatory life, foreign and unfriendly countries like the the United Kingdom took advantage of this reality to promote its destabilization agenda within this sub-culture.
In June, the United Kingdom embassy in Caracas published several posts showing its support to the Caracas Pride Parade, with some troubling historical comparisons:
We are already in the ‘Month of Pride LGBT+,’ and to commemorate the occasion we present you a photo of the team of the United Kingdom Embassy in Venezuela during the ‘MarchaDelOrgullo2023.’ There we share together with representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country and members of civil society under the slogan “Pride Matters.” This March and this, the month of Pride, seeks to raise awareness of the defense of people’s rights and freedoms LGBT+ and reject all kinds of discrimination and violence against them. !! Why is Pride important? The roots of Pride marches go back to the Stonewall Uprising in New York City that began on June 28, 1969. Stonewall sparked several days of protests by members of the LGBT+ community in response to a police raid. This is widely considered the landmark event that transformed the LGBT+ movement. Subsequently, on June 27, 1970, the first Pride Parade was held. 54 years later, PRIDE is still as important as ever. It’s an opportunity to highlight the collective struggle that runs through the LGBT+ community and recognize that there is still work to be done. Open, inclusive and diverse societies generate greater prosperity for all people. At times when we see a setback in respect for the rights of the LGBT+ community worldwide, the UK is proud to continue raising awareness and advocacy for LGBT+ rights everywhere. No one should have to face violence or discrimination for being who they are.”
“Pride Calendar: Discover key dates for the commemoration of LGBT+ Pride Month in Venezuela. On the occasion of Pride Month 🌈, we have prepared a summary with some of the activities organized by different groups of the LGBT+ community in the country to raise awareness and promote equality, inclusion, and respect for the rights of all people. Pride Month is fundamental because it reminds us of the importance of living in a society where everyone, can love and express ourselves without fear of discrimination or violence. It’s a time to honor the history, struggles, and achievements of LGBT+ communities around the world. From Pride marches, to theater shows, assemblies and discussion forums, this 2024 and, for the second year in a row, from the British Embassy in Caracas, we share this Calendario Pride to highlight the initiatives that are carried out in different cities of Venezuela. Let’s hope it’s useful!
The first post was published by the UK embassy on its Instagram account on June 7, just hours before the shopping mall incident. This post has clear political motivations and particularly its reference to the Stonewall Uprising reveals that this narrative, ostensibly in support of LGBTQ+ community, cannot be separated from other narratives used to promote unrest and riots in Venezuela.
The second post was published on June 12. It is noteworthy that the United Kingdom, which is currently bombing the people of Yemen and engaging in military provocations against the nation of Venezuela, is using this issue to announce its commitment to a society “without fear of violence.” The hypocrisy is palpable.
Social contradictions involving the LGBTQ+ community exist in many countries around the world, and Venezuela is no different. The difference in the case of Venezuela is that it is a country constantly besieged by the United States and its European subordinates.
Unfortunately, many LGBTQ+ organizations in Venezuela are heavily penetrated by foreign unfriendly interests. This is done through funding from countries directly or subversive NGO’s like George Soros’ Open Society Foundation. For Chavista organizations in the LGBTQ+ community, not being able to explain the lack of advancement in the government granting equal rights to this community is a Damocles Sword that ends up pushing its members towards the organizations and political ideologies promoted by these foreign unfriendly interests.
In the photo above, from the Pride event, is a bus with the European Union flag and two persons wearing t-shirts with “NL”, representing the Netherlands, another unfriendly European Union country. The Netherlands is part of the EU sanctions regime against Venezuela and, in 2019, offered its colonial territory of Curaçao as a base for the coup-plotters led by Juan Guaidó.
Photo gallery
Below are several photos and videos about the Caracas Pride 2024, taken from the websites of LaIguana.TV, Efecto Cocuyo, and Curadas.com.
Hemos llegado a Plaza Venezuela para disfrutar del concierto de clausura de la marcha del orgullo LGBTIQ+ en Caracas‼️#OrgulloVe pic.twitter.com/9FTc4csoPS
— País Plural (@tupais_plural) July 7, 2024
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/DZ
