by Rex Wockner
Lisbon, Portugal, saw its biggest gay pride parade to date June 20. PortugalGay. PT photo
International News Briefs
About 3,000 people marched in Lisbon's gay pride parade June 20, making it Portugal's largest pride parade to date.
But Portuguese gays may like to party more than they like to march, as the Arraial Pride party a week later attracted 4,000 people.
Mayor Antonio Costa joined the outdoor booze, food and music event near the Torre de Belem, the city's most prominent landmark.
"One novelty was the 'Queer Games' activity with a high heels run, and other funny sport-like activities; another first was a kindergarten area," said correspondent Joao Paulo of the Web portal PortugalGay.PT.
On July 11, about 1,000 people took part in the fourth gay pride parade in Porto, the nation's second-largest city.
After dark, some 2,000 people showed up for the ninth Porto Pride party, which lasted until 8 a.m.
