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Amsterdam, NL --Over two hundred fifty thousand spectators lined the canals of historic Amsterdam to watch the eighth annual Amsterdam Gay Pride Canal Parade. Over one hundred boats participated in the 4 hour event. Colorful floats from around the world made their way around the heart of the old city. After the parade eight straatfeesten or street parties commenced. Each of the gay areas in Amsterdam held their own theme party.

The Amstel section hosted the "Traditional Dutch" party with Dutch Superstar performers "The Dutch Divas", Anneke Grönloh and Heidi Heinos. The "Trendy" clubs on the Reguliersdwarsstraat hosted a dance party with international DJ's and pop singers. The Warmoesstraat was the leather scenes late night party venue. The Canal Parade and Street parties are presented by the Gay Business Amsterdam.

The Gay Business Amsterdam is a cooperation of 80 gay-related companies and organizations in Amsterdam (the members). The main goal of the GBA is to stimulate events and activities which will bring more liveliness to Amsterdam. These activities will stimulate the employment and economy of Gay Amsterdam

Every first weekend of August the largest gay event of The Netherlands, the Amsterdam Pride, is organized by the GBA.

Except for Queensday (April 30) and the Start of the Cultural Season, the 'Uitmarkt' (end of August), the Amsterdam Pride is the largest outdoors event of Amsterdam, with several hundred thousand visitors every year. Each year more and more visitors come from abroad.

The main equal rights goal of the GBA foundation is the improvement of cooperation of gay and lesbian companies and organizations and together promote Amsterdam as the gay capital of Europe.

The GBA is mostly known by organizing the Amsterdam Pride with the extravagant parade of boats through the city of old Amsterdam as its highlight. Prides in Amsterdam are professionally organized and have a very high participation rate of the members of the GBA and other organizations, never had a budgetary deficit, has enthusiastic participants and a very high publicity score. CNN has been broadcasting highlights of this event for many years.

Besides organizing the Pride other initiatives are stimulated as well. In 1998 the GBA and many of their members have sponsored the gay exhibition ´From the corner of the Eye´, composed by the Stedelijk Museum. The daring openingsparty of this exhibition in 7 halls of the museum has also been produced by the GBA.

At the moment the GBA is working with: its members, the City of Amsterdam, the government, the Dutch Board of Tourism, the Amsterdam Board of Tourism, the Royal Dutch Hotel, Restaurant and Catering association, COC, the Schorerstichting, Fight for Life, the Aidsfonds, HELPA, Amsterdam Verlicht, the Police, Several Sponsors and more.

The board of the foundation keeps their members informed through monthly columns in the Gay & Night and the Gay News Amsterdam. Every month a member of the GBA is portrayed in the Gay & Night.

The Gay Business Amsterdam was founded in September 1995.

For more information see: http://www.amsterdampride.nl