by Rex Wockner
International News
About 450,000 spectators and 45,000 marchers turned out for the rain-drenched EuroPride parade, held this year in Stockholm Aug. 2.
Marching groups included the dominant Church of Sweden, 80 businesses and six of the seven political parties represented in Sweden's Parliament. There were a record 152 floats.
The Stockholm Fire Department took part for the first time.
"We are bad at pluralism in the fire brigade," Fire Chief Jan Wisen told EUobserver.com. "Statistically, it is not plausible that none of them are gay. Sadly, the fact that none has come out signals that they feel the fire brigade environment is not accommodating to gays, and we have to change that."
The department has 400 members.
A wide variety of other EuroPride events took place over 10 days. Next year's EuroPride will be in Zurich, Switzerland.
