Seoul takes pride after 3 years

More than a thousand police officers escorted thousands of LGBT rights activists through the streets of Seoul on Saturday to honor the city’s first Pride march in three years following a COVID-19 induced halt.

 Due to church-backed counter protesters gathering nearby, police were on high alert, illustrating the difficulties around rights of sexual minorities in this extremely conservative country.

 Meanwhile, Pride marchers in their rainbow attire and costumes clapped and swayed to music from a platform in front of city hall during the Seoul Queer Parade, which advocates for the equality of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals.

 According to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official Kim Man-seok, tens of thousands of officers from roughly 60 units were on hand to keep an eye on the demonstrators on both sides.

 The 2020 and 2021 editions of the Seoul Queer Parade were cancelled due to the country’s use of strict physical distance requirements to combat the coronavirus outbreak. The country’s anti-virus drive has also exposed the country’s homophobic issues.