SÃO PAULO – São Paulo state governor Geraldo Alckmin announced the future creation of a Museum of Sexual Diversity for the city on Sunday, ahead of the city’s 18th annual Gay Pride Parade – the world’s largest.

Speaking at a press conference alongside São Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad and Special Secretary for Human Rights Ideli Salvatti, Governor Alckmin said the new museum would be located at the heart of the city on Avenida Paulista – also the start place of Sunday’s parade.

Av. Paulista 1919, known as the Casarão Franco de Mello, will take some renovating but has been commissioned after the success of a small exhibition of sexual diversity in República metro station.

The politicians gathered to show their support for LGBT causes, including the main cause behind this year’s parade: the approval of the João W. Nery Bill, known as the Gender Identity Law, which would enshrine in law the right for simple legal recognition of members of the trans community.

Trans activist Janaína Lima spoke of the need for the Gender Identity Law at the 2014 São Paulo Gay Pride Parade press conference. Photo by Ben Tavener

The politicians gathered to show their support for LGBT causes, including the main cause behind this year’s parade: the approval of the João W. Nery Bill, known as the Gender Identity Law, which would enshrine in law the right for simple legal recognition of members of the trans community.

There were also calls for the approval of a law rendering all forms of LGBT-phobia, including homophobia and transphobia, a federal crime. The law has made little progress in Brazil’s Congress due to stern opposition for right-wing and religious factions.

More coming later from the Gay Pride Parade itself…