Europe celebrates Gay Pride
2004-07-03 20:37
London - Dancing to the beat of samba music, tens of thousands of people converged on central London to celebrate Gay Pride on Saturday, while a similar number marched in the German city of Cologne and hundreds of thousands were expected at a late-night parade in the streets of Madrid.
More than 30 floats were decked out in full colour for London's festive parade, which set off under bright skies from Hyde Park towards Westminster and the Houses of Parliament, before continuing to Trafalgar Square.
A dozen samba bands set the tempo for the parade, which has been given official status as a street party, rather than a political rally, for the first time in its three-decade history.
"Thirty-two years ago this was a small demonstration, and now we have become a major touristic attraction," organiser Jason Pollock said in an interview with ITV television.
London's first ever Gay Pride march, in 1972, drew just 700 demonstrators, who faced an onslaught of insults from homophobic onlookers.
He estimated that 40 000 to 50 000 people had turned out for the parade, which has been dedicated to a Jamaican gay rights activist, Brian Williamson, stabbed to death in Kingston, Jamaica, last month.
Today, although the party spirit has largely taken over, the event remains politically significant.
"It's about being visible," in London "but also in smaller cities," summed up one young parader, who wore a period costume complete with powdered wig, in an interview with by Sky News television.
Paraders included Lord Wahid Ali, the first openly-gay member of Britain's upper house of parliament, and a delegation of homosexual police officers, including the deputy-head of the London Metropolitan police force.
London's mayor Ken Livingstone, who has vowed to strengthen the fight against homophobia in the capital, told paraders that he was proud for the city to host the celebration.
Many of the speeches delivered on Saturday focused on a bill aimed at legalising homosexual unions which went before parliament in March, rekindling the debate on the legal status of homosexual couples in Britain.
If passed, the legislation will guarantee gay couples the same rights as those enjoyed by heterosexual couples by 2010, including the right to adopt.
Festivities were to wrap up with a giant concert in the north London district of Finsbury Park, called the Big Gay Out, where dozens of rock musicians and DJs were to perform.
The event's new status as street party means its can now look forward to a mention in London guide books and organisers hope to widen the parade's appeal to develop it into a major new festival.