Paris  - More than half a million people took part in Gay Pride parade in Paris on Saturday in the motto "for a school without any discrimination."

The 2008 parade was dedicated to the fight against racism, sexism and xenophobia among young people.

Among the prominent participants in the parade was Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe and former culture minister Jack Lang, both members of the Socialist Party.

The conservative governing party UMP and the centrist MoDem were also represented. The event as usual was to end with a dance at Paris' iconic Place de la Bastille. (dpa)