Austria Issues Gay Pride Stamp

In what appears to be a global first, Austria has issued a postage stamp commemorating gay pride.

The special stamp was designed by Christian Högl, who works as a professional graphic designer in addition to his volunteer activities as HOSI Wien’s co-president. He also created the graphic designs for the Rainbow Parade for the last eight years. “Austrian Post will dedicate one of the 60 postal stamps to be issued this year to this event,” said Jona Solomon, co-president of Homosexuelle Initiative (HOSI) Wien, Austria’s oldest and leading gay and lesbian organisation, that has been organising the gay pride parade in Vienna since 2003.

A special post office will be set up at this year’s parade where stamp collectors can get the prized “first day postmark.”