SWEDEN/NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam's Gay Parade Canal Cruise marked its tenth anniversary with the theme of Rembrandt, while the parade in Stockholm had a more political tone

Record ID: 1538418

  • Title: SWEDEN/NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam's Gay Parade Canal Cruise marked its tenth anniversary with the theme of Rembrandt, while the parade in Stockholm had a more political tone
  • Date: 6th August 2006
  • Summary: (BN07) AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (AUGUST 5, 2006) (REUTERS) (MUSIC DURING PARADE) TRANSVESTITE DANCING ON PLATFORM ON A BOAT VARIOUS OF MEN DRESSED AS DEVILS, DANCING AMSTERDAM'S HARBOUR FULL OF BOATS AND PARADE PARTICIPANTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HANS VAN HOUTEN, GAY.NL, SAYING: "For the tenth time in a row we are doing this fantastic Canal Parade, and this year the theme is Rembrandt, because 400 years ago Rembrandt was born here in Amsterdam." VARIOUS OF MEN DANCING ON BOAT SPECTATORS SITTING ON A BRIDGE MAN DANCING MAN DRESSED AS PRIME MINISTER JAN-PETER BALKANENDE WITH A POSTER READING: "I VOTED AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE" PARTICIPANT DRESSED AS MARILYN MONROE DANCING ON BOAT SPECTATORS ON A BRIDGE VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS WEARING BLUE UN HELMETS, DANCING
  • Embargoed: 20th August 2006 23:43
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA67M88IKR2N34E5V7GMIQD9RRK
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: It was a case of dressing up or stripping off for the hundreds of people participating in the Gay Pride parades in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday (August 5).
    In Amsterdam, the official theme for the 10th annual Gay Pride was Dutch painter Rembradt, but the many devil horns, Marilyn Monroes and simple Speedos-outfits proved the theme had been interpreted loosely by the participants.
    The highlight of the parade, 'Canal Cruise', brought the revellers on the Dutch waterways, with spectators lining the many bridges.
    The carnevalesque procession of 65 official boats winded its way through Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon. In addition, the number of unofficial counted in hundreds, and the number of spectators in thousands. Well-known discos and bars had their own boats, as did prominent banks and political parties.
    Some of the participants chose to carry a political reference to their outfits, as was the case with a man dressed as Prime Minister Balkanende, brandishing a sign reading 'I voted against gay marriage' and a boatful of men dressed in little less than blue UN helmets.
    In Stockholm, the overall tone was more political.
    "From other parades in Europe that I have seen, Stockholm Pride Parade is a lot more political, as is the whole Stockholm Pride Festival. There is a lot more political content, also in the parade," explained head of Stockholm Pride Festival, Ulrika Westerlund.
    Some 130,000 people lined up along the streets of central Stockholm to cheer on the participants of the ninth Gay Pride parade in the Swedish capital.
    This year a record number of of people and cars were taking part in the glamourous show. Seventy-one vehicles, ranging from bikes to luxury wheels and big trucks, carried dancing and singing participants through the cheering crowds.
    British police officer Andy Hewlet, representing the European Gay Police Association, said the parade was worth travelling to Sweden for.
    "It's about showing camaraderie with our European colleagues, specifically our Swedish colleagues. This is fantastic place to be. Would not rather be anywhere else today," he said.
    The Parade is the grande finale of a one week festival organised by Stockholm Pride.
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