A Berlin choir opens Athens' gay pride parade with a musical ode to unity and acceptance.

The "Love me it's free" theme plays on Greece's economic turmoil and draws thousands in the capital.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FILM MAKER SONIA KOULETI, SAYING:

"The word lesbian comes from the island of Lesbos. We had homosexuality in the ancient times and it's ironic that we still have homophobia in Greece."

A similar event in Croatia brings out several government officials, including foreign affairs minister Vesna Pusic.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CROATIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, VESNA PUSIC, SAYING:

"We came to say very clearly that we will not allow violence, that we will not allow discrimination against anybody, whether it is based on race, ethnicity, gender or choice of lifestyle."

Police outnumbered activists to prevent anti-gay protesters from disrupting the march in the city of Split after angry residents last year pelted the parade with eggs and rocks.

Some see the event as a test of the country's human rights credentials ahead of its scheduled entry to the EU next year.

Lindsey Parietti, Reuters