Rio de Janeiro: Authorities in Brazil say nearly 700,000 people have celebrated in a gay pride parade at Copacabana beach.
Many participants waved rainbow flags and wore lavish Carnival costumes as loud music blasted from more than 15 sound trucks in Sunday's festivities.
Gay men, lesbians and cross-dressers danced and cheered to demands that Brazil enact more laws against homophobia in Latin America's biggest nation.
Organisers had hoped for nearly 1.5 million people at the 16th annual parade, but Rio de Janeiro police tell the newspaper the O Globo and other local media that about 700,000 were present.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, October 10, 2011, 12:45