Thousands of police officers from nearly 60 units were deployed to watch the demonstrators from both sides, said Kim Man-seok, an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Police didn’t immediately provide a crowd estimate but had previously forecasted a turnout of around 40,000 for the dueling events.
Participants in the Pride parade later planned to march toward Seoul’s main train station, around the same time that counter-protesters were planning to march in nearby streets. While major South Korean politicians avoided the Pride parade, the event drew a number of foreign diplomats, including newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg, whose endorsement of gay rights has raised the ire of conservatives and Christian groups. Some protested in front of the U.S. Embassy in recent weeks, denouncing Goldberg’s appointment as part of the Biden administration’s “homosexual cultural imperialism.
While views on sexual minorities in South Korea have gradually improved in recent years, they are still harshly stigmatized and frequently exposed to hate speech and crimes. Calls for equality have so far been stymied by a powerful Christian lobby that has blocked politicians from passing laws banning discrimination. Representation is an issue as there are no prominent openly gay politicians or business leaders, although some celebrities have carved out roles in show business.
The Seoul Queer Parade wasn’t held in 2020 and 2021 as the country employed stringent social-distancing measures to fight COVID-19. The country’s anti-virus campaign has also exposed its problems with homophobia. A string of infections linked to Seoul nightspots popular with gay men in 2020 sparked a huge public backlash that critics say possibly intimidated many sexual minorities from coming forward for testing.
Why heavy guards
Next week: 'South Korea experiences totally random outbreak of Monkeypox'
Dear LGBTQ, Could you please help me to understand about what type of benefit are you getting to show your identity ? I AM NOT HOMOPHOBIC...
Dear LGBTQ, Could you please help me to understand about what type of benefit are you getting to show your identity ? I AM NOT HOMOPHOBIC..
Dear LGBTQ, Could you please help me to understand about what type of benefit are you getting to show your identity ? I AM NOT HOMOPHOBIC.
Why no pictures with celebration :( I hope they at least had a good time.
Moneypox 🐒 is spreading out