Gays come out to parade their pride in a pink-carpet first for Hong Kong

The message was loud and clear at Hong Kong's first gay parade last night: we are out and we are proud - and we definitely know how to party.

Lan Kwai Fong rolled out the pink carpet - complete with sequins - for the parade, held as part of the 'Lan Kwai Fong Goes Rio' street carnival.

About 100 participants danced and pranced up and down D'Aguilar Street, with hundreds more enjoying the show.

The event was organised by the ninetysevengroup, the House of Siren dance outfit and sexual minority group Horizons. 'This is a coming out on behalf of our sisters and brothers who are still forced to remain in the closet - to show them that we are united in our hearts,' said Reggie Ho Lai-kit, co-ordinator of Horizons.

'This parade represents how far Hong Kong has come since a decade ago.'

Mr Ho said there had been talk of a parade with big sponsors and a series of events for a long time, but when the ninetysevengroup raised the idea just three weeks ago, he decided to throw caution to the wind, using the internet to quickly rally the gay community for a parade - however small.