Donald Trump Kissed Putin in Amsterdam

From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Jason and I are in Amsterdam for WorldPride, where I'll be appearing at the opening of the International Human Rights Conference. The city has truly rolled out the red carpet-and does it ever know how to celebrate. Every evening there are concerts, parties and cultural events. Madonna, Billy Porter, Conchita Wurst, and what seems like nearly every queen from "RuPaul's Drag Race" are part of the festivities.

But the true showpiece of Amsterdam Pride is its famous Canal Parade - a flotilla unlike anything else in the world. Eighty elaborate floats, many carrying close to a hundred people, glide through Amsterdam's historic canals past 100,000 cheering spectators. We expected a spectacular celebration, but we didn't expect the surprises - or the emotions - that came with it.

Before the parade began, there was entertainment from the main stage. The emcee asked the crowd, "How many people are here from France? Germany? England? Asia?" One place was noticeably absent: America. Jason and I looked at each other and smiled. Should we shout that we were Americans, or would the crowd respond with boos? In today's political climate, it was probably a wise decision by Amsterdam Pride to leave that question unasked.

The parade itself was breathtaking in both its creativity and diversity. This is Amsterdam, after all. There were floats celebrating intersex people, bisexuals, leather and fetish communities, and every part of the LGBTQ+ family. Others carried powerful messages: opposition to book banning, support for refugees, and celebration of marriage equality; fittingly, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

One float especially touched me. It represented COC Netherlands, the country's first LGBTQ+ organization, founded in 1946. The oldest continuously operating LGBTQ organization in the world. Looking at those on the float shouting "The people, united, will never be defeated," - the same motto we in GLF used in 1969 - I couldn't help but think about the generations who came before us, the people who fought, often in silence and at great personal risk, so that celebrations like this could exist today. I found myself making a heart with my hands as they passed by.

There were also police, firefighters and military floats, each greeted enthusiastically by the crowd. The military float drew smiles and applause with a sign that read, "You can't spell Military without the T."

But the float everyone will be talking about came near the end and had been kept a closely guarded surprise. It featured participants holding placards displaying quotes, and then two enormous 50-foot balloons depicting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin locked in a kiss. It was classic Dutch satire - provocative, unapologetic and impossible to ignore.

As I watched the final floats disappear down the canal, I realized that Amsterdam Pride isn't simply a parade. It's a reminder that Pride can be joyful, political, historical, irreverent and deeply moving - all at the same time. More than half a century after Stonewall, the fight for equality still continues, but so does our ability to laugh, celebrate and imagine a better future. Perhaps that's Pride at its very best.

About the Author

Mark Segal Mark Segal is an American journalist. He is the founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News and has won numerous journalism awards for his column "Mark My Words," including best column by The National Newspaper Association, Suburban Newspaper Association and The Society of Professional Journalists.