One million march in anti-gay rally -
An estimated one million evangelical Christians marched in Brazil's largest city Sao Paulo today against homosexuality, just days ahead of what is billed to be the world's largest gay pride parade.
Pastor Andre Fabiano shouted over truck-mounted loudspeakers: "Vade retro, Satanism! Vade retro, homosexuality!" -- Get back, Satanism! Get back, homosexuality! -- paraphrasing Medieval Latin exorcism amulets.
Seventeen flatbed trucks carried musical bands performing live for the marchers as they snaked through the streets of Brazil's financial capital. Police estimated the number of marchers at one million.
The March for Jesus, organised by evangelical churches, comes just ahead of Sunday's annual Gay Pride parade.
In 2006 some 2.8 million marched in the Gay Pride parade. At this year's event, billed as a march against racism, homophobia and male chauvinism, organisers say they expect even more protesters.
"Through the Bible we know that God disagrees with what they (the homosexuals) do," Walter Silva Filho, an evangelical marcher, told the G1 news website. "We condemn those acts, but not the people."
Another marcher, identified as Pastor Paulo Henrique de Oliveira, said the purpose of today's march was not to repudiate homosexuality or compete with the Sunday parade, but was rather a march for evangelical unity.
Brazilian gay groups in May staged protests during the visit to Brazil by Pope Benedict, criticising the Vatican for influencing government social policies.
The Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals published an open letter denouncing "the public pressure that religious groups, beginning with the Vatican, wield against the passage of laws" around the world that would benefit people like them.
An estimated one million evangelical Christians marched in Brazil's largest city Sao Paulo today against homosexuality, just days ahead of what is billed to be the world's largest gay pride parade.
Pastor Andre Fabiano shouted over truck-mounted loudspeakers: "Vade retro, Satanism! Vade retro, homosexuality!" -- Get back, Satanism! Get back, homosexuality! -- paraphrasing Medieval Latin exorcism amulets.
Seventeen flatbed trucks carried musical bands performing live for the marchers as they snaked through the streets of Brazil's financial capital. Police estimated the number of marchers at one million.
The March for Jesus, organised by evangelical churches, comes just ahead of Sunday's annual Gay Pride parade.
In 2006 some 2.8 million marched in the Gay Pride parade. At this year's event, billed as a march against racism, homophobia and male chauvinism, organisers say they expect even more protesters.
"Through the Bible we know that God disagrees with what they (the homosexuals) do," Walter Silva Filho, an evangelical marcher, told the G1 news website. "We condemn those acts, but not the people."
Another marcher, identified as Pastor Paulo Henrique de Oliveira, said the purpose of today's march was not to repudiate homosexuality or compete with the Sunday parade, but was rather a march for evangelical unity.
Brazilian gay groups in May staged protests during the visit to Brazil by Pope Benedict, criticising the Vatican for influencing government social policies.
The Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals published an open letter denouncing "the public pressure that religious groups, beginning with the Vatican, wield against the passage of laws" around the world that would benefit people like them.
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