Gov. Patrick leads Obama supporters in Boston gay pride parade (PHOTOS)
A man holds rainbow flags during the pride parade in Bratislava on June 9,2012.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick led President Barack Obama’s supporters during Boston’s gay pride parade today, the first since the president came out in support of gay marriage.
Elizabeth Warren, running for the Democrats in the Senate race, also attended.
“We are happy that things are becoming more equal, and that everybody is accepted for who they are,” parade-goer Jean Matthes told NECN news.
The 42nd annual parade began about noon at Copley Square where marchers gathered and headed to City Hall Plaza.
Patrick is co-chairman of Obama’s re-election campaign, The Associated Press reported.
In early May, Obama told ABC News that gay marriage should be legal.
“It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” he told ABC’s Robin Roberts in an interview.
Obama is the first American president to back same-sex marriage.
More from GlobalPost: Obama says gay marriage should be legal
Cities around the world are hosting pride parades this weekend.
In Split, Croatia, about 900 police officers watched over the 500-person parade in an attempt to prevent violence that marred last year’s celebration, Reuters reported.
Croatia is to join the European Union next year, and a visiting EU delegation said it would be watching the parade closely.
Many politicians also marched in the parade, an event called an important display of the country’s commitment to human rights and social freedom.
“We have to be here to show that we’re the country where the laws are respected and that we will not allow violence or discrimination based on racial or ethnic grounds, on choice of life style or any orientation,” Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic told Reuters.
Tel Aviv hosted its pride parade on Friday, with 30,000 in attendance, AFP said.
“This parade is very special because Tel Aviv is one of the only places in the Middle East where we can openly show our differences and, more important, be tolerant with each other,” Rohan Ebanks, a visiting American, told AFP.
As many as 400,000 people are expected on Sunday in West Hollywood to march in the LA pride parade, which is to be led by actor Molly Ringwald.
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