Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 14:57:49 +0200 (MET DST) From: Björn Skolander Subject: Rainbow Parade in Vienna From: INES RIEDER Subject: rainbow parade in vienna Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 13:23:13 +-200 Queer Pride in Vienna Ines Rieder An approximate 50,000 people gathered on Vienna=B4s Ringstrasse on June = 29, 1996 to celebrate lesbian, Bi, gay, trans pride. It was the first = pride parade to take place in Vienna and according to the organizers it = was an overwhelming success. The mass media took little notice of the upcoming event and even = afterwards they continued to report little or wrongly about the = wonderful afternoon spent celebrating sexual diversity. Instead of = giving a correct estimate of the number of participants, they claimed = that only 2,500 people marched down the Ring. They also noted that the = parade was quite a shocker due to the participation of a few = sadomasochists. At 2 p.m. all the participating organizations and individuals started = gathering in front of Vienna=B4s famous opera. By 3 p.m. the Viennese = faction of Dykes on Bikes opened the parade under the cheers of the = participants as well as the onlookers. More than three hours later the = last groups arrived at Schottentor, the final point of the parade. The three political parties which have been supporters of the = lesBigaytrans agenda sent their representatives. Each of these parties = has nominated lesbian and gay candidates to run for a seat in the = upcoming local elections. Some of these candidates delivered short = addresses at the rally which concluded the parade. As always with such events, everyone had fun--no matter if they were = marching, singing, dancing, shouting or merely looking. As always words = and pictures are only glimpses of something much larger. The veterans of the movement were impressed and delighted because = instead of being on their own, they were joined by thousands of people = who dared to demonstrate their sexual preference and diversity for the = very first time. Everyone went home with thousand little stories and = images. I=B4m going to tell one of the dialogues I overheard, as an = example:=20 =20 there was this old lady on the side of the street and she asked this = young lessie couple: is it true that they are all homosexuals. yes, of course, said one of the girls. every second austrian is = homosexual. is that so, asked the old lady. look, said the girl, i dig women, there are plenty of men who dig men = and that=B4s the best thing that can ever happen to you. yes, yes, said the old lady. The organizers are already thinking about next year=B4s parade and hope = to see you all there.