Marchers Defiant as Nationalists Attack Budapest Gay Pride March

At least 49 arrests were made and 10 people injured on Saturday during a gay pride march in Budapest, Hungary as nationalists and neo-Nazis attacked marchers and riot police who had assembled to quell the anticipated violence.

According to the Budapest Times, "Far right activists had been called to arms weeks in advance via extremist websites, and a massive police presence was in place to keep the expected angry protesters away from the gay marchers. Two-metre-high metal barricades had been erected along both sides of Andrassy út to keep agitators out of the path of the parade. The participants in the parade - well over a thousand members of gay, lesbian and transsexual groups, as well as sympathisers - were fully expecting the attacks. They wore plastic raincoats and carried multi-coloured umbrellas as eggs, tomatoes and other missiles rained down on them. Rioters turned on the police at a number of locations. Shortly after 4pm, the police had to disperse gangs armed with groceries, bottles and stones as they attempted to intercept the gay marchers at Oktogon. A police van was set ablaze in the melée, and tear gas and water cannon were used to clear the way for the parade. Cordons were set up to prevent people from approaching Andrássy út from side streets."

Bloomberg reports: "Parade-goers carried rainbow-colored umbrellas and signs carrying slogans such as 'Jesus taught us to love. Why do you hate?' The truck at the head of the parade carried two men who acted out a mock marriage with a female officiant. Their black suits became caked with egg yolks as the parade progressed. Gabor Szetey, a former state secretary in Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's cabinet who announced he was gay one year ago, said Gay Pride Day was no different from Hungarian Pride Day in an address to parade participants. 'Hungary, which is a European democracy, must accept people who are different,' he said. 'We can't choose whether we are gay, Roma or Jewish, but we can control our own destinies.'

A video report from the BBC, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sphere: Related Content

News: Bombing Budapest, Video Violence, Marilyn Digs Her Own Political Musgrave, Portland Even Gayer Than McDonald's & More

Magnum, a gay sauna in Budapest, Hungary, was the target of four petrol bombs early today. This is the second bombing in a week. In both cases, the perpetrators called first to make sure people were inside. "We are doubtful if the police are really protecting the gay establishments as they promised," says Gabor Kuszing of the Hungarian gay-rights group Patent Association.

Two female students were arraigned on charges of aggravated assault after videotaping their beating of a lesbian classmate whose PDAs were said to upset them.

All of Big Sur, California, was ordered evacuated as an 11-day-old fire continues to rage.

Colorado Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave goes back to the anti-gay marriage well that nearly cost her her job.

Keep Your Eyes On Your Fries: The American Family Association thinks McDonald’s is so, totally, like gay.

For Obama, even some formerly fire-engine red states have got the blues. But it's not all "blue skies"—the largest group on his own Web site is devoted to urging him to reconsider caving on FISA.

Portland tops the "Gay Ghetto" list. (Where's New York???)

Scientology's $8 million-dollar secret.

A modern-day West Side Story may be in the works.

Joe Lieberman is not popular.

Chris Martin of Coldplay used to "worry that he might be gay" until he realized he loved boobs. He attributes his sexual anxiety to his Christian upbringing. "What I grew up with was, if you even think about boobs, you’re going to hell," he tells Rolling Stone. "But let’s face it, they’re fantastic."

Lindsay Lohan threw herself a prom-themed 22nd birthday at the Hollywood Roosevelt Wednesday. Her date? Top-hatted DJ Samantha Ronson.

Democratic House candidate Darcy Burner of Washington owes her life to her five-year-old son, who awakened the politico and her husband in time to flee an early-morning fire that destroyed their home.

Jai Rodriguez to star in a new musical about a Cuban refugee "who sets sail on a turbulent journey that leads him all the way to Hollywood and into the arms of a fiery, redheaded movie star named Lucille Ball." Waaa!

Ever seen Swoon? Its director, Tom Kalin, is back with Savage Grace, the true story of socialite Barbara Daly Baekeland. Julianne Moore plays the neurotic woman, who was said to have bedded her own son, Antony (Eddie Redmayne), as a means of curing his homosexuality. Instead, it probably helped drive him toward what became a grisly day of reckoning in 1972. The movie—out in limited release in the U.S. for the past month—is generating a big stir due to extended portrayals of their incestuous liaisons.

Watermelon makes me horny.

Madonna's Sticky and Sweet Tour setlist might very well contain classics "Borderline" (not presented live in 23 years) and "Into the Groove," the Oscar-winning "You Must Love Me" from Evita and, of course, "La Isla Bonita"…a song Madonna seems to think is on par with "Vogue" considering how often it's trotted out. Other oldies under consideration? "Dress You Up," "Everybody" and "Angel."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Luke Russert, Coldplay, British Army, Father's Day, Canada

Tim Russert's son Luke talks to Matt Lauer...

The executives of the Human Rights Campaign contributed $4,300 to Hillary Clinton's campaign and $0 to Barack Obama. Records show that the other contenders received the following amounts: Dodd — $3,000, Edward — $750, Richardson — $500.

Prince Edward County in Canada a magnet for open-minded thinkers: "Bill [Stearman] says he's seen more homophobia in cities such as Toronto and Belleville. 'It's comfortable here and you don't have to worry. There's a person with a beard and breasts who happily walks down the main street in Picton and nobody cares.' Carlyn Moulton, who co-owns the Oeno Gallery nearby, calls it the 'So-What Factor,' and says people are bonded much more by things other than sexual orientation."

Coldplay's Chris Martin storms out of BBC interview.

Father's Day: Gay couple who adopted three young brothers speaks out: "We are just like you, other than that it’s two men instead of a man and a woman. We live life the same way you do. We put our pants on one leg at a time just like you do. We have the same routines and the same requirements to keep our household going."

Matthew McConaughey back doing what he does best.

Join McCain's "team".

Gay soldiers in Britain's Army will be allowed to march in this year's gay pride parades while in uniform, and not in the red shirts they were forced to wear last year as a replacement: "The Ministry of Defence announced that the Army had this year joined the Royal Navy and RAF in allowing personnel to take part. Last year, soldiers were banned from wearing anything identifying their military links. But a meeting between army officials, Pride organisers and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, resulted in an agreement to scrap the ban in time for this year's parade on July 5."

Nova Scotia town of Truro a changed town after rainbow flag controversy: "The news release, issued Tuesday, says that as a result of discussions between town council and Mr. Thompson, a number of strategies will be undertaken. The town has amended its affirmative action policy to include sexual orientation in the town’s employment equity policy, the release says. Truro will also consider amendments to include gender identity in that policy. The release also says Mr. Mills and councillors will take part in an educational program designed by a town staff member and a representative of Rainbow Proud that will deal with homophobia and gender identity."

Prince William goes barebacking.

Gay Pride in Budapest, Hungary gets go-ahead after police chief reconsiders: " The new decision by Dr. Gábor Tóth approves of the march and its route as originally suggested by organisers. A meeting between the Pride organisers and police was due to be held this afternoon to renegotiate the march, but this was not required following the publication this morning of the new decision by Dr. Tóth."

Brokeback Mountain composer Gustavo Santoalalla receives BMI Icon of the Year award.

Tori Spelling shows off some big wieners

Controversy in Australia over football coach who was sacked after it was reported that he was bisexual.

Gay website for rural community in Ireland shuttered after lawsuit related to article on local lake which served as meeting place for gay men: "What could make a lake so lethal? Sex, actually. People were reportedly doing it under the nearby trees, in bushes, at and near the waters (in it, too, perhaps). An unusual wet weather activity, you may be thinking. A man objected. Tony Geraghty, a freesheet editor, witnessed this joie-de-vivre and wrote a cover story for The Mayo Echo, captioned 'Castlebar Lake attracts hundreds of perverts'. Threads on castlebar.ie found his article offensive; Mr Geraghty found the threads offensive. One thing led to a legal other and the site closed."

Sphere: Related Content

Hungary Gay Pride Lifted by Coming Out, Marred by Violence

The streets of Budapest, Hungary grew tense over the weekend as a crowd reported at 2,000 marched in the city's annual Gay Pride parade. A group of protestors threw mineral water, eggs, and sacks filled with sand at the marchers, injuring some. The violence lead to the arrest of eight people

Caboodle reports: "The counter-demonstrators followed the procession of some 2,000 gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transvestites and their supporters on three trucks and on foot from Heroes' Square to the Danube. The situation grew more tense at 6 p.m. when the parade got stuck outside the Buddha Beach bar on the Danube, because no one had the key. Marchers and counter-demonstrators were jammed together on Közraktár utca, but police restored order...

...Gays were attacked in several places in the hours following the procession. A German man received the worst blow in Pipa utca in the Ninth District, when assailants struck him on the head with a beer bottle."

Gays in Hungary were given extra support in the lead-up to this weekend's Gay pride festival when its first elected official, Gábor Szetey, a member of the Socialist Party, came out at the opening of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Film and Cultural Festival.

Said Szetey: "My name is Gábor Szetey. I am the personnel state secretary of the government of the Republic of Hungary. I believe in God, love, freedom and equality. I am Hungarian and European. I am an economist and a personnel leader. I am a partner, a friend, sometimes an opponent. And I am gay."

Sphere: Related Content