Hundreds of thousands attended the WorldPride 2017 parade in Madrid, a city which has become a global reference in LGBT openness
Madrid (AFP) – Hundreds of thousands of revellers young and old danced, cheered and partied on the rainbow streets of Madrid Saturday in the world’s biggest march for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
Carried along by the slogan “Viva la vida!” (Live life!), drag queens, policemen, activists and politicians made their way through the centre in celebration of sexual diversity and in defence of LGBT people the world over, under the watchful eye of security forces.
Young people mixed with parents and their kids to cheer on as the noise of hovering helicopters blended in with the drums of the march, with onlookers wearing outfits as varied as regular shorts and t-shirts, tight swimwear and sailor uniforms.
Diana Vanegas, a 30-year-old Colombian who lives in California, was on holiday in Spain with her husband and her toddler daughter, who sat in a push chair waving a mini rainbow-coloured flag.
“She doesn’t know what the flag represents… but she has to respect people for what they are and not judge them because of their sexuality,” Vanegas said.