Gaga says 'ciao' to huge gay rally in Rome

ROME, June 12 (UPI) -- The crowd at Europride Day in Rome topped 1 million Saturday when American pop princess Lady Gaga took the stage, event organizers said.

The announcement "We are a million people" was made from the stage at Circus Maximus just minutes before the always-theatrical Gaga made her appearance in an aquamarine wig and black-and-white dress, the Agenzia Giornalistica Italia news service said Sunday.

"My greatest joy is being here with you and feeling part of every one of you," Gaga told the cheering throng.

Gaga fired off a few bars of her hit "Born this Way" and saluted Mayor Gianni Alemanno for the city's efforts in staging the festival.

Giornalistica Italia said the issue of same-sex marriage was a major theme of Europride Day. Signs in the crowd urged Italy to legalize gay marriage.

A Rome woman named Andrea told reporters she wanted to see gay marriages across Europe. "It's an international message to start developing a European mentality, and not only in Italy," she said.