(6 Jul 2011) HEADLINE Raw Video: NY marriage vote celebrated in Europe
CAPTION:Tens of thousands of revelers turned out Saturday for a gay pride parade in Paris, many of them hailing the legalization of gay marriage in New York and demanding that France follow suit. (June 25)
Paris, France
1. Various of people at Gay Pride march
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eva Joly, Green Party candidate for the 2012 presidential elections:
"This is wonderful news from New York and our programme also contains this element that we want the marriage for homosexuals, and gays and lesbians."
Berlin, Germany
3. Wide of opening of parade with Klaus Wowereit, Mayor of Berlin
4. Various of costumed participants at the parade
5. Various of costumed participants at the parade
STORYLINE:
PARIS (AP) _ Tens of thousands of revelers turned out Saturday for a gay pride parade in Paris, many of them hailing the legalization of gay marriage in New York and demanding that France follow suit.
Marchers, dressed in drag, brassieres or striped sailor outfits, paraded under a sea of rainbow-colored flags and jigged to thumping techno beats on slow-moving truck beds that became moveable dance floors.
Elsewhere in Europe, however, Russian police detained 14 gay rights activists trying to hold an unsanctioned rally in St. Petersburg to demand equal rights for gays _ a sign that resistance remains high in many places. An Associated Press photographer saw some unidentified attackers besiege the activists and try to seize their banners before police moved in. One suspected attacker was also detained.
Paris' parade drew many leaders from France's political left, which has rallied around equal rights for gays _ notably marriage and adoption rights _ and put the issue in their platform for the 2012 presidential election race.
"This is wonderful news from New York," said Eva Joly, a Green Party presidential hopeful. "Within the first 100 days of the new government, we will adopt that law" allowing gay marriage, she said.
Many marchers trumpeted New York's decision Friday to become the sixth and largest U.S. state to legalize gay marriage, a move that they said exposes how France is behind the times as equal rights progress in places.
Others said the New York legalization should be just the start.
"The state of New York isn't the United States, unfortunately," said marcher Frederick Hartwig, 26, who was naked except for a glittery black jock strap, feathered high-heel boots and sequin-studded mask. "The great victory for the United States will be when the middle of America _ the middle of nowhere _ will allow everyone to have such rights."
Two weeks ago, France's National Assembly rejected a bill presented by the opposition Socialist Party seeking to legalize same-sex marriage, despite growing public support for gay rights.
The vote reflected opposition to gay marriage among President Nicolas Sarkozy's governing conservatives and the strain of traditional values that runs through many parts of France _ away from the gay-friendly bars and neighborhoods of Paris.
In Germany on Saturday, thousands packed downtown Berlin wearing colorful costumes for the 33rd annual CSD festival calling for acceptance of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals.
"The support of many people from all walks of life send a strong sign against discrimination," said Berlin's gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit. He urged greater acceptance of diversity in the European Union, notably among newer and future EU members in the Balkans and Baltics that can be less tolerant of gays than the old member states.


Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть