Pride parade in Buenos Aires

It was a celebration like no other, on a much larger scale than May 17th. In Argentina, Pride is celebrated at the beginning of November, with spring, sun, and pleasant temperatures.

It felt like the entire city was gathered on Avenida de Mayo, children, young people, adults, and the elderly. The hostel we are staying at is located on a side street, so there was literally a street party right outside our door. The street was completely transformed.

The traffic was replaced with stalls, a throng of people, music, and joy. The day started with a 'feria' around 11 o'clock, with stalls selling pride flags, bracelets, art, and clothing. Various organizations were also represented.

Along the curb, there were parked open trucks, in which people were singing and dancing. The cars were also decorated for the celebration, with lots of colors and slogans. Around the area, there were vendors carrying coolers with beer and soda.

Others were ready to prepare Fernet con Coca, which is a beloved drink here. There were also plenty of food stalls. Lots of meat, choripan (chorizo+bread), and also some vegetarian food.

In front of the Casa Rosada there was a stage, and in front of it, on the Plaza de Mayo, there was also a full celebration. In other words, the entire street was one big celebration, with all the elements that come with it.

Experiencing the energy and the vibrant atmosphere was touching. Especially considering the shooting in Oslo this year and the parade that was cancelled.

It emphasizes the importance of continuing to make the diversity of sexuality, gender, and love visible. To promote pride, rather than social stigma. In Argentina, same-sex marriage became legal in 2010, as the first country in Latin America and the 10th country in the world.

The country is known for being a leader in transgender rights. In general, there is a high social acceptance for LGBT individuals in the country, which is also noticeable in everyday life here. At the same time, Argentina also has work to do in terms of changing attitudes and accommodating LGBT individuals. There is always room for improvement.

Back to the celebration: Moved, I thus walked up the street, taking in the entire atmosphere. I was tempted by a pancake with dulce de leche. It was delicious, but mostly very messy. Dulce de leche oozed out from every edge of the pancake.

Before I knew it, my long, beige linen skirt was covered in stains. My sandals and feet took a beating too, and I can confirm that dulce de leche is very sticky.

So I went back to the hostel to wash the stains off my skirt (they came out with water!) and change. Fortunately, it wasn't a long trip home.

At five o'clock, it was time for the parade itself. The cars that had been parked started to drive up Avenida de Mayo, towards Plaza del Congreso. I felt a bit sorry for the drivers.

Each car was closely surrounded by people, and it must not have been easy to drive safely. The parade moved forward at a snail's pace, but no one was in a hurry.

When the parade was not moving forward, there were often music and dance performances, and those in the cars sang and danced for those celebrating at street level.

In the beginning, we stood and watched the parade, before we gradually became fully involved in it. The energy of the Argentinians was unflagging, as the celebration continued throughout the evening and into the night.

I like that Pride is celebrated at different times around the world. Maybe I should start following Pride celebrations in every corner of the globe? I'm not sure if any city can top the celebration here in Buenos Aires.