The annual Gay Pride celebrations in Amsterdam every July and August are being rebranded Pride Amsterdam to become more inclusive, the organisers said at the weekend.

The nine-day festival began as a gay event but has since expanded in scope to cover transgenders, bisexuals and others.

‘We want everyone to identify with the programme,’ a spokesman for Pride Amsterdam told the Parool. ‘Lots of people don’t know what you are talking about if you refer to LHBTI and there are all sorts of subgroups as well. We say just one letter is important, the ‘p’ for Pride.’

The event kicks off on July 29 with a march from the Gay Monument next to the Westerkerk to the Vondelpark to raise awareness for the position of gay people in countries where homosexuality is a crime.

The traditional boat parade, featuring 80 boats and floats, takes place on August 5.

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