120,000 march in Vienna Rainbow Parade for gay rights

AFP, July, 2008

VIENNA (AFP) — About 120,000 people in colourful and often scanty dress took part in Vienna's annual Rainbow Parade on Saturday to call for equal rights for gays and lesbians, organisers said.

Thirty-degree heat and sunny weather ensured record attendance for the 13th edition of the march, which like almost all other events this year in Austria had a football theme, even two weeks after the end of Euro 2008.

"No more offsides!" organisers urged, calling for legalised gay marriage and an end to discrimination, although daring high heels, rather than soccer boots, were the choice of footwear on the Ring boulevard where the Fan Mile recently stood.

The event also took on political significance, coming a week after the Austrian government announced ...