The annual Pride parade aims to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community and raise awareness of the issues facing LGBTQI+ people.
It is also an opportunity to promote equality and tolerance for all genders and sexual orientations.
As in any country where it is held, in Porto, Portugal it usually includes a parade through the streets of the city, with participants and floats, as well as a variety of cultural and social events such as concerts, parties and speeches.
They thought it was some nationalist who came out to demonstrate against Pride
Unfortunately, today, it is easy to forget the true essence of holding pride parades, as they are called.
However, such an emotional moment as the one captured on video during Pride in Porto serves as a reminder of the true essence of these events. Love, empathy and acceptance.
The touching video
In a video that has been making the rounds on the internet for the past few days, an elderly man can be seen during Pride, standing on the doorstep of his house and waving a Portuguese flag.
NO YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HE WAS WAVING THE PORTUGUESE FLAG BC HE DIDNT HAVE A PRIDE FLAG AND THEY TRADED FLAGS AND HES SO EMOTIONAL TO GET HIS OWN PRIDE FLAG IM EMOTIONALLY RUINED https://t.co/UJHc0CJoR0
— Liz(ard)🦎 (@smrchildsadness) July 1, 2024
According to information, some attendees were initially worried as they thought it was a nationalist, who came out to demonstrate against Pride, wearing the country’s flag on his back.
However, they soon discovered that this was not the case. The old man just wanted to celebrate the Pride parade with them but he didn’t have any other flag in his possession other than his country’s.
A Pride participant approached the man and handed him the rainbow flag. The man breaks down in tears and hugs the flag, in a scene that has even become a sketch.
ainda não parei de pensar nele ❤️ https://t.co/CLQ4rLNYkm pic.twitter.com/7lz5W8myEB
— Dudzzzzzzzz (@dudz_zZzZ) June 30, 2024
The girl who gave him the flag spoke on TikTok about this touching moment.
@lily.ctrlv Obrigada @maranunes and @PÚBLICO pela cobertura! #fyp #pride2024 #storytime #gayrights #lgbt #queer ♬ A Day in My Life – Soft boy
“I was so surprised and it was such a beautiful moment,” Lily said. “I don’t know what came over me, to be honest. He was just crying, and I was trying not to cry, and it was very emotional… Everyone was giving me hugs, everyone was giving the gentleman hugs. It was truly an incredible moment and during the rest of the course we were all saying… “what just happened to us?”. I would love to meet him and say thank you for this beautiful moment as I didn’t have the time to do so then…There is hope out there. And that is the spirit of Pride.
