Mardi Gras in New Orleans Mardi Gras in New Orleans The holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in Southern Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (the start of lent in the Western Christian tradition). Usually there is one major parade each day (weather permitting); many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the Mardi Gras season. In the final week, many events occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities, including parades and balls (some of them
LGBT rights in Rio de Janeiro (state) for the district to decide if they agree. If they don't agree, the marriage cannot proceed. LGBT rights in Rio de Janeiro (state) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil enjoy many of the same legal protections available to non-LGBT people. Homosexuality is legal in the state. On 17 April 2013, The "General Magistrate of Justice" of Rio de Janeiro, Judge Valmir de Oliveira Silva, published a legal ruling authorizing same-sex marriage in the state if local judges agree. Same sex weddings are poised to begin in the coming days. According to the ruling (25/2013),