Amsterdam Gay Parade attracts record crowd

Aug 5, 2007, 0:08 GMT

Participants dance during the annual Gay Pride parade in Amsterdam, Netherlands 4 August 2007. EPA/ROBIN UTRECHT

Amsterdam - A record 375,000 people came to see the 2007 Amsterdam Gay Parade on Saturday.

The parade consisted of 72 boats - another record - sailing through the medieval canals of the inner city on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Extravagance and provocativeness characterized the dress - or lack of dress - of many homosexual participants dancing and singing on the boats.

However, some boats were out to make more serious statements. For the first time ever, a group of 40 teenaged gays aged 11 to 16 participated in the world famous gay parade. They were accompanied by their parents.

The initiator of the teenage gay boat, 14-year-old Danny Hoekzema, said the participation of teenage gays was necessary to ask attention for the position of young gays.

The second novelty at the parade was a boat carrying mentally disabled homosexuals.

But it was the boat of heterosexuals that carried the main message of the day: Amsterdam says 'no' to anti-gay violence.

'We are participating in the gay parade as heterosexuals because we are proud to live in a country which accepts homosexuality,' one of the sailors said.

With their participation, heterosexuals protested against increased violence against homosexuals in the Netherlands, traditionally known for its tolerance of gays.

Police say that reported anti-homosexual violent incidents were up 20 per cent last year. Homosexuals say Moroccan youth are responsible for most incidents.

Frank van Dalen, COC chairman, the organization of homosexuals in the Netherlands, said the increased violence 'causes much concern in the gay community.'

Many gay participants in the boat parade Saturday carried signs protesting anti-gay violence. Several signs were designed in the humourous and provocative style characteristic of the gay parade.

'So you're intolerant? Piss off' read the sign on the boat of Mr B, a local leather shop. On deck, homosexuals dressed in kinky leather outfits were dancing and singing.

By 6 pm local time (1600 GMT) the parade was over. The Amsterdam Gay Pride festival continues until Sunday evening with more concerts, stand-up theatre and other events.