bournville-web.net - For the first time in history, South Korea held a LGBT parade. It is called a small but significant step for the upholding of human rights, in a conservative country in terms of gender and sexuality.
Dozens of participants marched through Itaewon area on the outskirts of Seoul on Saturday, May 26, 2018. The area is known as the nightlife center of the LGBT group that has been growing rapidly in recent years.
Quoted from the South China Morning Post on Sunday (27/05/2018), the parade participants cheered while hoisting the rainbow flag which became a symbol of LGBT struggle, as if ignoring the strange look of the audiences encountered along the way.
Although homosexuality is not illegal in South Korea, same-sex marriage is not recognized. Gender changes are prohibited legally.
South Korea is also known to have the largest number of evangelical Christians in the world, where LGBT groups often feel pressured and confined by it.
"When it comes to South Korea, human rights guarantees for sexual minorities are not enough," said Yang Heezy, a transvestite and organizer of the Seoul Drag Parade.
"Today's parade, and more strange cultural festivals, should be made to attract the attention of sexual minorities, and help the public learn more about LGBT existence," Heezy added, wearing wiggy red lace and floral dresses, in the parade.
The parade was followed by LGBT and its supporters, including from South Korea and overseas. There are also reportedly no demonstrations that counter to the title, as is often the case in various similar activities in the State Ginseng.
LGBT complaints in South Korea
Meanwhile, a parade participant, who claimed to be named Lola Bank, admitted very happy to be in the middle of a historic celebration for LGBT community in South Korea.
"The fact that we can freely express in public a huge milestone for the reception of something weird for (the people of Korea)," Lola said enthusiastically.
"I always struggle with the identity of my masculinity and femininity, and how to behave according to the wishes of the people out there, really has made me sick," he complained.
On the other hand, LGBT group celebrations have actually been held on a small scale since the last few years. However, it gets protests from religious groups, who often conduct anti-homosexual demonstrations, and sometimes lead to physical attacks.
Even South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a former human rights lawyer, said she was "against homosexuality" during last year's campaign debate.
Even so, LGBT rights activists claim that a number of advances have been made in recent years, with surveys showing increased tolerance - especially among young people - and increased participation in gay existence events.
