MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguayan Gays Prepare to Celebrate “Kissing Marathon” next Monday

The celebration is scheduled to take place before Congress in the capital Asunción

The Paraguayan organization “Somosgay” (We Are Gay) has announced for Monday May 17 a “kissing marathon” in front of the National Congress beginning 09:00 in the morning in coincidence with the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia

The official release from the Paraguayan Somosgay organization invites all public to attend, and more specifically gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples. During the event, activists from the group will present Senators and Lower House members with a letter requesting them to legislate in defence of all forms of violence and discrimination linked to sexual diversity and gender identity.

Somosgay points out that on Monday 17 May 1989 the World Health Organization (WHO) established that homosexuality is not a disorder or a mental disease, but a legitimate expression of human sexuality.

In spite of the WHO statement and the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), at least in 80 countries homosexuals are criminalized or persecuted by the legal system.

Landlocked Paraguay is one of the poorest countries in South America, learning to live in democracy with a strong influence from the Catholic Church and a decisively macho society which makes the efforts of the local gay branch more stunning.