Hundreds of thousands rally for LGBTI rights in Madrid
MADRID — Hundreds of thousands of people marched Saturday in a global gay pride demonstration in Madrid under tight security, and a parade of 52 floats took the festivities through the Spanish capital and into the night.
The rally was led by all of Spain’s major political parties, both left and right, who carried a large banner that read “For LGBTI Rights All Over the World.” Behind them came a slow-moving mass of people decked out in rainbow flags and colorful outfits, dancing to music under the southern European sun.
The march included several groups from other countries, including the United States and Britain, as well as groups ranging from rural lesbians to gay and lesbian police officers.
“For all the people in countries who are suffering persecution, we have to celebrate and make visible our pride,” Jesus Generelo, the head of the Spanish federation of LGBT people, told a large crowd from an outdoor stage after the march.