Rio de Janeiro aims to become world capital of gay tourism

[Shana A]

Rio de Janeiro aims to become world capital of gay tourism

Brazilian city's diversity week follows series of gay-friendly government schemes to capitalise on growing market

        Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro
        guardian.co.uk, Monday 11 July 2011 17.15 BST
     
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/jul/11/rio-de-janeiro-gay-tourism

The theatre lights dim and a Brazilian supermodel takes to the stage, tanned legs emerging from a skintight miniskirt.

In the audience, an A to Z of Rio de Janeiro's great and good: pop stars, sports stars, soap stars and would-be stars, flanked by an army of local paparazzi. Clutching a microphone, the model addresses the crowd. "My name is Lea and I am a transsexual," she says, triggering a frenzy of applause and whistles.

The model in question is Lea T, Brazil's first transsexual supermodel. And this is the champagne-soaked launch party for Rio's inaugural diversity week – a celebration of the city's cultural and ethnic differences and an attempt to position Rio as the global capital of gay tourism.

[Julie Marie]

"My name is Lea and I am a transsexual," she says, triggering a frenzy of applause and whistles.

Not, "My name is Lea and I am a woman"?

As for Rio, better brush up on your crimestopper skills.

[tekla]

In the last 10 years Rio has had 60,000 murders, of which 24,000 victims remain unidentified.  Bring your bulletproof panties and your Kevlar bra.