I amsterdam - Best Amsterdam Gay Pride

Cruising with pride

Since its inception in 1995, Amsterdam’s celebration of all things Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender (and every other queer community of any bent) has grown into one of the world’s premier Pride parades. And it’s easy to see why. Instead of the standard formula of dykes on diesels and fags on flatbed trucks waving from a drab city streetscape, Amsterdam’s queer community take pride in taking cruising to a whole new level by flying their colours from a flotilla of oh-so-gaily decorated boats, barges, ferries, sailboats, canoes, punts, gondolas rubber dinghies and virtually everything else that floats from the kitchen sink to the bathroom tub. 

Troubled waters

But putting this many egos, sequins and hot pants from a community more diverse than a United Nations cocktail party onto the water has been far from smooth sailing.

After recent bickering, backstabbing, bitching and just bad brinkmanship the Amsterdam City Council (not at all proud of the previous organisers Gay Business Amsterdam’s petty squabbles) finally broke the monopoly GBA had on the festival after they foolishly threatened last year to take their bat and ball home rather than share their pride and joy with other (non GBA) gay boys and girls. For a moment it seemed Amsterdam’s Gay Europe’s Crown was about to sink into the murky depths.

We are all in the same boat

But luckily last year a new organization Pro Gay stepped bravely into the breach and, together with the support of the City, they saved our Big Gay Out (producing a somewhat lacklustre, but admittedly last minute canal parade). However, in 2007 with a year to get their sequins of events stitched up Pro Gay unveiled a welcome extension of the formerly weekend festivities to a week-long celebration, along with a somewhat pointless
re-branding: We Are Amsterdam Pride (striking the right tone of inclusiveness but surely the kind of name only a VERY large committee could love). And in the spirit of including the entire queer community they’re even sharing duties with the formerly scorned GBA. Isn't that what a Pride event should be about? 

Something for every bent

From open air film screenings, sports competitions, church services and more parties than a Dutch election ballot paper for virtually every queer minority (from bootscooters to buffed chests to black chaps wearers) scattered across town in a week long celebration of everything Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bi and other assorted queerness of every bent.
On the nights before and after the canal parade, street parties are held at Halve Maansteeg, the Amstel and Rembrandtplein (for traditional Dutch fans of lager songs and larger than life singers), Reguliersdwarsstraat (young &
trendy - and their not so young or trendy admirers), Paardenstraat (women),
the Warmoesstraat (leather men, bears & skins), as well as a long weekend of great all-types party at the Homomonument for those who prefer not to be pigeon-holed (or simply can't be in three places at once). Mega-crowded dance parties are thrown by all the usual suspects (as well as plenty of sharks fishing for fags by fluttering rainbow flags for only a few days) so check out www.amsterdamgaypride.nl for a full agenda and guide to the best gigs about town. Or simply stop by Pink Point next to the Homomonument for the latest news on what's homo and what’s faux-mo. But with Saturday's extraordinary Canal Parade attracting a crowd upwards of 250,000 - if the weather holds - grab those prime
bridge-top viewing spots early folks!