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"Our message to South Korean society at large this year is to
affirm LGBTQ people," said festival chief organizer Yang
Sun-woo.
The city authorities had previously denied requests by the
organizers to use four locations, and a counter rally against
the festival was held nearby.
"We're going to do it anywhere where we can do pride because the
main thing is to convey the message that we're everywhere," Yang
said.
A protest against the Queer Culture Festival was held in a
separate location in central Seoul on Saturday. Thousands of
participants held blue flags and signs with phrases such as "No
to Homosexuality Queer Festival".
Among various booths and activities at the queer festival was
event blessing for couples.
"We participated in the festival to show visibility, that we
exist," one couple - Park Hyun Chung, a 25-year-old bisexual
person, and Kim Jarim, 22, who identifies as pansexual - told
Reuters.
"We're going to have a wedding ceremony next year. Usually at
weddings, there are a lot of events where you receive blessings,
or celebrate religiously. But in our case, we don't even know if
our parents will participate... There are times when I'm sad,
but I'm really touched to receive this blessing from this queer
parade."
Conservative religious groups in South Korea mount fierce
resistance to efforts to pass laws against discrimination. There
is no legal acknowledgement of LGBT partnerships.
As a result, many LGBT people hide their identity in public as
they struggle for equal recognition and acceptance.
Last year's parade attracted around 50,000 people, while 155,000
people attended the festival, according to organizers, who
expected a bigger turnout this year.
(Reporting by Sebin Choi and Daewoung Kim; Writing by Joyce Lee;
Editing by Mike Harrison)
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