Seoul Pride goes ahead despite rising anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, venue blocked by Christian group
- The annual celebration, which began 23 years ago as a gathering of a few dozen people, was expected to attract more than 100,000 in its new location
- A Christian group took the event’s usual spot at City Hall as authorities said it was more family-friendly, despite Pride taking place there since 2015
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday afternoon in Seoul for the city’s Pride parade, following months of wrangling with officials who had rejected an application to hold the event at its usual spot in front of City Hall.
The annual celebration, which began 23 years ago as a gathering of a few dozen people, was expected to attract more than 100,000 people to the capital’s Euljiro business district. The new location was at a major intersection about half a mile away from the traditional site in grassy Seoul Plaza, a symbolic spot often used by unions and other protest groups.
Locals and tourists cheered as the parade got under way, with revellers draped in rainbow flags, walking under colourful umbrellas or fanning themselves after a heat warning was issued earlier in the day.
“At first I was really depressed when they moved the parade”, said Choi Bomin, 26, at the event. “But after I came here today, it was very empowering. People are getting more united. People are fighting back.”
Both Pride organisers and a Christian group applied to host events on July 1 at City Hall, but municipal authorities gave permission to the Christian youth concert, saying that it was more family-friendly, despite the fact that Pride had taken place there since 2015. The organisation hosting the concert, the Christian CTS Cultural Foundation, is linked to CTS broadcasting, which has made anti-gay remarks on-air.
Hundreds of police and organisers lined the parade route, while some anti-gay protesters heckled the crowds.