Funchal hosts LGBTQIA+ Pride March to advocate for rights

The LGBTQIA+ Pride March took place in Funchal, traveling from Largo do Município to the Madeira Legislative Assembly. Organized by Madeira Pride, the event aimed to promote visibility and defend the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Paulo Spínola, the head of Madeira Pride, described the march as the most demanding part of the Pride program. He noted that the initiative serves to draw attention to ongoing discrimination and the rise of movements that encourage hate and violence against minorities, including gender and sexual orientations, women, and other marginalized groups.

Spínola emphasized that the mobilization acts as a “cry of alert” regarding the assumption that all rights are permanently secured, noting that some previously won rights are currently being debated. The march featured a diverse group of participants across various ages and genders.