スペイン・マドリッド・プライド：150万人以上を動員

A painted man holds the republican colors in the Gay Pride march in Madrid. Organizers said more than 1.5 million people took part in the Spanish capital's gay pride march, a week before the country's first visit by Pope Benedict XVI.(AFP/Bru Garcia)

More than 1.5 million attend Madrid gay pride
Sat Jul 1, 7:51 PM ET
AFP

Organizers said more than 1.5 million people took part in the Spanish capital's gay pride march, a week before the country's first visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

The pope, who is to attend the fifth Catholic World Meeting of Families in Valencia, has recently intensified his criticism of gay marriages, which were legalized in Spain a year ago by the Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The slogan of Madrid's gay pride was "For diversity, all families count".

Police gave no figures for the number of participants in the immense rally that crossed the centre of Madrid in sweltering summer heat.

"Soldier of Hitler and of God, out to this pope inquisitor", read some banners at the demonstration, referring to German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who became Pope Benedict XVI.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, who will be in the eastern Spanish port of Valencia on July 8-9, on Friday said families are "the key structure of society" and are based on the "marital union between a man and a woman according to the plans of the Creator".

Since Spain made same-sex marriages and adoptions by gays and lesbians legal last year, more than 4,500 couples have benefitted from the law.