The festival, Austin's eighth annual celebration of gay pride, offered live music, arts and crafts, food, beer and tattoos. About 4,000 people attended the daylong event at Fiesta Gardens on the shore of Town Lake.

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The festival was also a forum to talk presidential politics. Signs that read "Howard Dean for America" were posted throughout the grounds.

Volunteers promoted Dean, a Democratic presidential candidate and former Vermont governor who in 2000 signed that state's landmark civil union bill into law, the country's first law giving equal rights to gays and lesbians. At least 300 people pledged support for Dean, who needs 5,000 signatures to qualify as a presidential candidate in Texas, said Glen Maxey, a former Texas representative who supports Dean.