Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Santiago on Saturday for Chile's annual Pride Parade.

Waving multicolored flags in support of sexual diversity rights, they marched and danced their way through the capital.

Chile officially recognized Nov. 16 as National Diversity Day in 2022, through a law enacted by President Gabriel Boric.

The march, organized by the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, carried a distinctly political tone.

Chileans are due to vote on Nov. 16 in general and presidential elections, marked by a polarization between the far right and the ruling coalition led by a communist candidate.

Many of the revellers, including lawmaker Emilia Schneider, stressed the importance of the vote.

"I believe this demonstration is important to tell those who want to promote hatred, those who want to take away our rights, that it won't be so easy," she said.

AP Video shot by Alexandre Plaza