Ministers, Mayor Participate in Gay March in Croatia

A Gay Pride march in Croatia's second city of Split involving 500 people received support from two ministers and the mayor who joined the march. Split is the place where anti-gay violence marred a similar demonstration two years ago.

Hundreds of riot police escorted the demonstrators, who were demanding full equality including marriage for gay couples.

Protest Against Gay Marriage In Paris Gets Heavy Security
Ahead of a mass protest in Paris against a new gay marriage law, with hardline activists expected to mingle among 200,000 demonstratorsl, the French police were on alert.

This year's march towards the Splitska Riva waterfront promenade took place without any incidents, unlike the first Gay Pride march in the city two years ago, when 10,000 anti-gay activists hurled stones and bottles at 200 demonstrators.

Newly-elected Ivo Baldasar, who became the first Croatian mayor to participate in such an event, said members of the gay, bisexual and transsexual community should have the same rights as all other citizens.

Croatia's Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic and Minister for Administration Arsen Bauk also joined the march.

Brazil Clears Way for Gay Marriage
In Brazil, a top judicial panel cleared the way for same-sex marriage, ruling that gay couples could not be denied marriage licenses.

Local activist Sanja Juras noted that two years ago, "the stones fell on us".

"Today, it is the mayor who walks with us in front of the procession. Much has changed," she said.

New Gay Marriage Protest Taken Up by Evangelicals in Brazil
Thousands of evangelical Christians protested in Brasilia against a legal ruling allowing gay marriage in Brazil.

In 2003, Croatia extended the same rights to gay couples who have lived together for at least three years as those for unmarried heterosexual couples, including state recognition of shared assets.

However, the country is also strongly influenced by the Roman Catholic church which has publicly branded homosexuality a "handicap" and a "perversion".

Last month a Catholic Church-backed group launched a petition for a referendum on whether to include into the constitution a definition of marriage as the "union of a man and a woman".

The group said it has collected more than 710,000 signatures in the country of 4.2 million for the initiative which is seen as an attempt to prevent any future legalisation of homosexual marriages.

Source-AFP