by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
Singer and gay icon Liza Minnelli danced on a float in Paris' gay pride parade June 27.
Minnelli is the daughter of gay icon Judy Garland, whose death five days before the Stonewall Riots 40 years ago is thought to have contributed to the foul mood of the gays who decided to fight back against the police raid of the Stonewall Inn.
"Freedom," Minnelli shouted from the float. About 700,000 people took part in the festivities.
"We knew that she (Minnelli) had a concert this evening in Paris but when her agent told us that she could come, we thought it was a joke," Pride spokesman Philippe Castel told Agence France-Presse.
Berlin also held Pride on June 27. About 550,000 people turned out, reports said.
