Thousands attend
Paris gay pride
Hundreds of thousands
of people have taken part
in the annual gay
pride march across Paris.
BCC News from the
Web, June 24, 2006
|
 |
|
|
A man
painted in rainbow colours at the march. Participants called
for more rights for gay people |
|
This year's parade, the last before
presidential and legislative elections next year, conveyed a political theme.
Marchers called for greater equality, the legalisation of same sex civil
marriages and the right for homosexual couples to adopt children.
A number of politicians also turned out which analysts described as an attempt
to broaden their electoral appeal.
Among those attending were the Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande and the
mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe.
Activists carried a banner which read "For Equality in 2007".
Countries such as Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain already grant gay
couples the same rights as married couples.
The march started in the south of the city and ended in the Place de la
Bastille.
Organisers said that more than 800,000 people attended, but police could not
confirm the number.
A three-minute silence was also held to remember those who had died from Aids.
Gay pride marches also took place in Portugal, Italy, Greece and Croatia.
|
