Thousands March in Australian Gay Pride Parade
Led by a rainbow-colored Noah’s Ark and pairs of dancing men in animal costumes, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade wound through the streets Saturday before a crowd expected to number 750,000.
About 200 floats and 7,000 marchers took part in the parade--now in its 23rd year--which has grown from a civil rights march to one of the world’s largest gay pride events.
Floats and marchers generally chose to either sparkle or satirize--often both. One float was covered in multicolored “rings of friendship” reminding onlookers that Sydney hosts the 2000 Olympics in September.
The parade has become a huge moneymaker, bringing an estimated $100 million to the city in 1998.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
