The LGBTI diversity march will take place June 25 in Costa Rica; this event has been taking place for 8 years and it’s a space to celebrate and promote the rights of the LGBTI community.

Bands, floats, dancing, shows and other attractions are part of the march that starts at Paseo Colón and finishes in the Plaza de las Garantías Sociales in San José.

The organization of the event has already announced the honored personalities that will take part in the event and that will receive the Pride Awards 2017 in a ceremony scheduled June 20 at the San José Palacio Hotel; among them the Minister and Vice-Minister of Justice Cecilia Sánchez and Marco Feoli who were selected because of their work in the defense of rights of the LGBTI population in the different Costa Rican penitentiary facilities.

“This award has the objective of recognizing the work done by the Ministry of Justice and Peace in the defense, promotion and recognition of human rights of a population that historically is discriminated as is the case of the imprisoned population and particularly the actions directed towards the imprisoned LGBTI community”, explained Javier Umaña, part of the organization of the event.

“I am honored that the efforts we have carried out in the penitentiary system to provide answers to the LGBTI population are being considered and valued. There is still a lot to be done, but as a country we are opening spaces for people and eliminating the existing stigmas and prejudice ”, commented Cecilia Sánchez.

The LGBTI diversity march begins at noon on June 25.