Gay Pride returns to Amsterdam’s canals – Yahoo! Voices

STORY: “I missed it, and I think everybody missed it,” said Dutch woman Chas, 42, watching boats pass under a bridge.

The 25th edition of the parade caps a week of Pride events in the city as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities celebrated their identity and demonstrated for their rights.

“Originally this was gay pride but today you see hundreds of thousands of people regardless of whether they’re gay or straight or whatever, and that is so fantastic,” said reveller Jonas van der Kaaij Olsen, 53, draped in a rainbow flag.

This year’s theme, “My Gender, My Pride” seeks to give extra attention to gender identity as organisers said transgender emancipation has lagged behind that of other groups.

The Pride festival said its focus is gradually changing from celebrating people’s right to love whomever they want to their right to be whoever they are.