PARIS — Tens of thousands of revelers turned out Saturday for a gay-pride parade in Paris, many of them hailing the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York and demanding 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 — 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.
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.
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 sends 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.
