VIDEO BY MARK CHESNUT; PHOTOS BY ANGEL PABON
In this EXCLUSIVE VIDEO and photo feature, LatinFlyer.com takes you to Puerto Rico for the 22nd annual LGBT pride parade and festival, which took place on the first Sunday in June 2012.
Several thousand people converged in Puerto Rico’s capital for this gay pride parade, which started on Ashford Avenue in the upscale Condado neighborhood, then headed to Puerta de Tierra for a lively festival and rally that included political speeches, vendors and lots of live entertainment.
Pedro Julio Serrano, a Puerto Rican political activist and founder of Puerto Rico Para Todos, speaks in the video about the meaning of this growing gay pride event. Indeed, the gay pride event in San Juan may not be on the “must-do” list for most globetrotters yet (gay pride in São Paulo is the world’s largest such event, so it likely is higher up on the list), but this was a decidedly enjoyable gathering, and an expression of solidarity.
DON’T MISS: The LatinFlyer.com Guide to Gay Bars in San Juan
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Participants in the San Juan gay pride parade expresses thanks to President Obama. |
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Straight supporters turned out for their family and friends at the San Juan gay pride parade in Puerto Rico. |
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“Orgullo gay” was in focus during the gay pride parade in San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
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The club called Circo was the only gay bar to participate as a sponsor in the San Juan gay pride parade. |
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From muscle men to political activists, all types joined the 2012 gay pride parade in San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
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Drag performers were among the most-photographed participants in the 2012 gay pride parade in Puerto Rico. |
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Marchers in the gay pride parade in San Juan headed into the Puerta de Tierra neighborhood. |
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People of all ages joined the 2012 gay pride parade in San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
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Gay pride parades are known for their attention-getting outfits, and the event in Puerto Rico was no exception. |
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Smiling faces were easy to find at the 22nd annual gay pride parade in San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
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An angelic figure arrives at Escambrón Park in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the gay pride festival. |
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Colorful and creative hair styles were visible at the San Juan gay pride festival. |
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A gay pride version of the Puerto Rican flag stood on a hill in San Juan’s Escambron Park. |
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Color contacts create a dramatic effect on this gay pride festival attendee. |
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An array of talented drag performers entertained the crowd at the San Juan gay pride festival. |
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A dancer with the gay pride flag, at San Juan’s gay pride festival and rally. |
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A beautiful tropical backdrop for this drag performer at the San Juan gay pride event. |
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This performer had an amazing face paint job, at San Juan’s gay pride event in Puerto Rico. |
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Still more amazing body paint, in the style of a gay pride flag, at the San Juan gay pride event in Puerto Rico. |
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