Porto Pride returns to the city center between September 13 and 15 with music, a conference dedicated to human rights and a fundraising campaign to give voice to queer artists, it was announced today.
In a statement, the organizers of Porto Pride – a festival that has been held in Porto since 2001 and which marks the struggle for the rights of the LGBTI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual) community – said that this year’s event is “of special importance” in the context of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April.
After having passed through Parque da Pasteleira in 2023, Porto Pride returns to the city center for three days to “give stage to Queer visibility”.
The “Porto Pride Summit” conference, at Porto Business School, marks the start of the event, which on the first day will also include a moment of conviviality, a “Warm Up Pary”, at the Yotel.
On September 14, Largo Amor de Perdição will host the Porto Pride Arraial from 16:00, an event where queer artists will take to the stage.
Porto Pride ends on Sunday with an event combining gastronomy and queer performances, the “Brag Brunch” at the Hard Rock Cafe.
This year several “leading figures” are expected at the event, such as the director of EPOA – European Pride Organisers Association. From November 1st to 3rd, Porto will host the national meeting of the respective association.
The organization stresses, however, that despite the relevance of the event, it faces “significant challenges due to the lack of public financial support”.
“It is not acceptable for pride events, which are essential for the promotion of human rights, to be seen as second-rate events. It is urgent that, at both local and national level, support is more than symbolic,” argues Porto Pride coordinator Diogo Vieira da Silva, quoted in the statement.
As such, in order to ensure that the Porto Pride Arraial, “the event’s high point of visibility and struggle”, takes place under the “best conditions”, the organization has launched a fundraising campaign, with the aim of raising 5,000 euros to cover the event’s logistical and technical costs.
