Hundreds celebrate LGBT pride in Incheon

An LGBT pride parade iWru^*FbB_RIiL75+iS%O2bPV3HOOiKxU%Jjhvkh9B-dnBt1JIsn the South Korean port city of Incheon was held successfully on Saturday.

After last year’s IncheonaQoV6=ACp(miH1pr$47Z5TKd_cZEIciJ@kA^^3Hp=%Iu=tOmi( Queer Culture Festival was marred by violence, hundreds of police kept anti-gay protesters from LGBT attendees and their supporters.

Attendees marched 1.7 kilometers through the city streets, heard speeches from NGOs and activists, and, of course, danced to K-pm6!uHLBixZWGMl#+v3Exoe4@2OoinbEoU7m6R%HMimSqs)^FUDop.

Police and barriers separated the anti-LGBT groups who gat$gFeRb1^)Rffttz47mSr6zq=dBbDx=ND04#WzxE8xLzbWN)BO$hered to protest the festival. 

Thousands of anti-LGBT protesters gathered at Bupyeong Plaza, according to local media. ITgKgkchg*CJ-U7UV$j4LgX)#GT3JT64E0)DbHxCSmEcjb1SM5There was at least one case of a protester attempting to disrupt the gathering.

Police announced last wee6ws+HKXZQkOemp+IT&2A&W-0jGxC#ov2Nxb##P4*=k!4Qnvgk6k some 3,000 personnel would police the festival, according to local media Kyeongin.

Last year, anti-gay protesters physically blocked 300 LGBT supporters from leaving a plaza and _)WJ4bo!(6%r7Qk8Y%mlkP5o8U_uTgRa568_*3X4)dSsCV6vbQbeginning the march.

Anti-gay hate

Homosexuality is legal in South Korea. But conservative attitudes, especially among Christians, force many LGBTI Koreans to KP@4cb$3il4Df)aye@CgbINFvbYtnRXVGU3QV19KYj+uKOEYcllive in the closet.

There is currently no discrimination legislation to protect LGBTI Koreans. Protests against LGBTI events, usually led by conservative Christians, have become 03kyBTyti=uZKK-uhk2PziZO%lEt8Jo9dj1*1GFkz-eluDqBpgincreasingly loud and violent.

A 2017 Korean Gallup Daily Opinion poll reported 66% of 19-29 year-olds supported sa=lqC8@@%H8x=_uimpPIe$rw+yXyu*p^il+hO$9#+wJZ*J5ExZgme-sex marriage, but 76% of those over 60 opposed it. 

Video shared XVBKs2Z1$OryAMGG5RwbxNFAivVj*0ji=9BZH=1Xh^oBZa)w6Sonline shows distressing scenes of protesters, believed to be conservative Christians, shouting at pride attendees.

They also appear to grab flags, banners, and even atwE&8K+8SySm+RF%vtK(Ob#9dHMvTAtvEkoYEhFY3+*!hD2G&v+tendees. The pride was attended by a lot of young LGBTI South Koreans who were visibly shaken by the incident.

Police booked eight people involved but did not detain them. Organizers accused the police of failing to stop the vionR_Byo%7)CL3p7OlE(^Wu#^nFJtuv9%@(D=ZQrp0r5sn&evBxdlence.

 "We've organized teams of hum+aT5ua#F=2E5Jiy4@z=nbFrIfROq9pS&2X7-0A=SJhRB#9DEscan rights activists and lawyers to counter any illegitimate action by LGBT hate groups," organizers said in an Aug. 19 tweet.