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PARIS , FRANCE -- An estimated 550,000 people participated in todays "Marche des fiertés" (Pride Walk) through the streets of Paris. The parade lasted over 8 hours from the starting point at the Montparnasse to the Bastile in the heart of Gay Paris. Large gaps between parade units kept onlookers waiting for hours before the next units would come by. This caused confusion among many, wondering if the parade was over after just two trucks. In all over 80 organizations participated.

At the head of the procession, just for several blocks, was the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, one of Europe's two openly gay large city Mayors. He was accompained by politicans and dignitaries including several Senate and National Council members.

Throughout the afternoon several goups carried political messages demanding rights for gays and lesbians world wide. The large Amnesty Internationl contingent reminded the crowd of the problems gays have in Egypt and other African countries. Equally as large was the the Act-Up group calling for more spending in the fight on AIDS. Several thousand drag queens marched in a variety of costumes from ultra chic to period.

At the Bastille marchers were treated to DJ's provided by FG Radio, a Paris radio station aimed at the gay and lesbian market.