Some 40,000 school students, police and firefighters in Melbourne, Victoria took to the streets on Sunday to support gay and lesbian rights, reported the local media. Melbourne is also celebrating its 17th Midsumma Festival from 20 Jan 20 to 12 Feb.

For the first time, the event attracted Melbourne's firefighters, who joined the Victoria Police and the Sheriff's Office, in the city's 11th annual Pride March. (See photo above)

Metropolitan Fire Brigade's deputy chief Keith Adamson said they were "all fired up."

"As a employer, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade is totally committed to fairness and equity."

He added: "As a service, everyone deserves our protection equally. Marching for gay and lesbian rights is one small way of demonstrating these commitments to the world."

Starting at 5pm, the parade traveled along Fitzroy Street before arriving for a concert in St Kilda's Cantani Gardens where a concert and other entertainment continued until 11pm.

Pride March spokesman Jamie Ivarsen said the march "went like clockwork" and organisers were thrilled with the healthy turnout.

"It's one of the biggest marches ever in its history," Mr Ivarsen said.

However without a single float in sight, the event is set apart from its high-profile Sydney cousin which launched its annual four-week festival last Friday at the Sydney Opera House, the first time in three years.

The internationally recognised Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade was watched by more than 450,000 people in 2005 and organisers are expecting hundreds of thousands of people to line the streets to watch the Parade on Saturday, 4 March. Organisers also expect some 15.000 people to dance the night away at the Mardi Gras Party at the Hordern Pavillion and Royal Hall of Industries on Saturday, 4 March.

An important cultural and economic affair for the city and one of the world's largest gay events, the festival contributes A$46 million (US$34.3 million) to the New South Wales economy in 2005, according to a press release issued by the New Mardi Gras.

The first Mardi Gras took place on June 24, 1978, an after-party in the streets following a gay rights rally, but turned nasty with arrests and allegations of police assault. In 2003, the old Mardi Gras organisation financially collapsed. New Mardi Gras was formed, and a more frugal festival carried the banner, slashing costs in 2004 and last year, though still nervously watching the fragile bottom line.

Incorporating more than 100 activities across the city including theatre and visual arts, live music, parties and sporting events, the month long festival will culminate in a parade and party on 4 March 2006.

In addition to the launch, major events include:

- Fair Day on Sunday, 19 February which will take place at Victoria Park and attracts over 60,000
people annually
- The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras arts festival which runs from February 3 until season close
- The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and Party on Saturday, 4 March 2006