The Gay Pride Parade and Village drew 35,000 to downtown Brussels last weekend, 10,000 more than the previous record attendance. As well as music and spectacle, attendees also heard calls to the European Union to make its framework directive on discrimination as broad as possible. Speakers also called for attention to the situation of gays in Africa and the Middle East. The parade, taking place in full election season, was attended by representatives of most political parties, including Open VLD chairman Alexander De Croo and outgoing interior minister Annemie Turtelboom.