 |
June 15 -- July 7 in Cologne, Germany |
|
By Rex Wockner International News Report
Even without hosting Europride, Cologne's gay-pride parade is one of the biggest in the world. In recent years, police pegged the turnout at from 700,000 to 750,000. Similar numbers have been seen only in Berlin, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney and Toronto. Organizers say this year's parade will attract over one million people. In addition to the parade, planned events include galas, parties, "Gay Family Day" at the Fantasyland amusement park, a sports tournament, theater, music, dance, comedy, poetry, street fairs, block parties -- more than 120 events in total. A three-day Pride Village street fair will be staged in the heart of the city, spread over four plazas and squares, July 5-7. The fight for gay equality is further along in Europe than anywhere else in the world. In The Netherlands, gays can get married under the same laws as straight people. Numerous other European nations, including Germany, have partnership laws that grant registered gay couples up to 99 percent of the rights and obligations of marriage. But there is a gap between Northern European nations and some less-evolved Southern and Eastern European nations. "In a number of countries that have applied for membership in the European Union, lesbians, gays and transgenders remain second-class citizens," Europride organizers point out.
"Tolerance and acceptance, it seems, are two different pairs of shoes," say Europride organizers. "When it comes to equal rights and fair treatment, we are still merely tolerated. But tolerance is not enough. Society must also be willing to accept our way of life, our diversity. And acceptance means participation, it means power-sharing, it means equal rights for lesbians and gays in all areas of life." For more information and visitor assistance, see http://www.europride.de. |
The Europride celebration is in Cologne, Germany, this
year from June 15 to July 7, culminating with a huge
parade through the city center.
