Nearly 250 persons of lGBT orientation as well as other supporters walked their way past the beautiful river-side promenade in the State capital to celebrate the State's first ever lGBT Pride parade.
Speaking to The Pioneer, organiser of the event Alexander Fernandes who also hails from Goa, said that most of the participants of the coastal State's first lGBT parade were resident goans and the attempt was to create awareness about lGBT culture and way of life.
"We had more than 250 people for lGBT orientation at the parade, the first ever in Goa. The objective of the parade was to create awareness among the local population about the lGBT community in the State, which is sizeable," Fernandes said.
Fernandes said, that despite the coastal State being a popular tourism destination, exposed to a lot of cultures, there was still a resistance to the lGBT community here.
"Goa is considered as a very popular tourism spot globally. The State is considered open-minded.
Actually speaking, Goa is not open-minded. They are okay with foreigners with lGBT sexual orientation, but not with their own. Goans should learn to accept their own children and their sexual orientation," Fernandes said.
"They need to get aware of all these things. They don't want to openly come and discuss about it. This pride will hopefully help to set the ball rolling," he added.
Goa is one of the top beach tourism destination in the country and attracts more than six million tourists, including half a million foreign tourists. The State is also a well known lGBT tourism destination.