Amsterdam celebrates Gay Pride

Gays and lesbians put on their brightest plumage Saturday and a rainbow fleet sailed through Amsterdam's historic canals as the city celebrated its annual Gay Pride festival.

The party drew an estimated 375,000 to 500,000 people and took place in the shadow of a spate of gay-bashing attacks this year which has surprised a city renowned for its tolerance.

DJs pumped music from ships packed with dancing partygoers, vying for the most outrageous theme. Well-muscled men were wore leather thong underwear, cowboy hats, disco glitter, and little else. One of the boats featured lesbian Elvis impersonators with pink hair. In another, lesbians in bikinis with fairy wings danced wildly.

For the first time, a designated "hetero-boat" was among the more than 70 vessels officially participating. Hundreds more cruised the canals just for fun.

Crowds lined the canals to watch the boats pass, basking in the first warm weekend since summer started.

"I think it's a great opportunity to promote tolerance and anti-discrimination," said Janz Froster who traveled from Germany to attend.

Amsterdam police spokesman Gerard Vrooland said there had been 16 gay-bashing attacks in the city so far this year, compared with 10 in all of last year. Vrooland attributed the increase to police efforts to encourage victims to come forward.

"Social acceptance of homosexuality is not complete," said Tijn Elferink, spokesman for the country's national gay organization, COC. "Gay people still can be beaten up, just like that, for holding hands or being in the wrong place at the wrong time."