Cyprus' first gay pride parade in Nicosia draws thousands of marchers

Thousands of people have marched in Cyprus' first gay pride parade, calling for equal rights in a country where homosexuality is still vehemently opposed by an influential Orthodox church.

Waving rainbow flags, more than 3,500 people of all ages marched peacefully on Saturday through the streets of the Cypriot capital Nicosia where earlier a much smaller, anti-gay group clashed with police.

"I'm here because I support the right of everyone to be who they are," said activist Magda Zenon. "I want to live in a society where everyone has equal access to resources and the law."

Cyprus decriminalised homosexuality in 1998, five years after a lone activist won a damning judgment against the country in the European Court of Human Rights. Sixteen years on, activists say Cyprus still lags far behind its European Union peers in terms of rights for gay people, and has been slow in pursuing legislation on civil partnerships.

Gay couples in Cyprus do not have the same rights to social housing and other benefits as heterosexuals and miss out on other entitlements such as being consulted over medical treatment if a partner is ill.

"There is one love, and our love deserves equal recognition before the law," said Gabi Calleja of ILGA Europe, an advocacy group for lesbians and gays.