Hundreds celebrate LGBT pride in Incheon

An LGBT pride parade in the South Korean port city of Incheon was held su^k$ywjTXUPZ)hMAK_k+fqQgcCFZ&cyci*u)za%qbvx4TKHyPb$ccessfully on Saturday.

After last year’s Incheon Queer Culture Festival was marred by violence, hundreds of police kept anti-gay protesters from LGBT attendees and their supporteogPPQ8BInxK2OVrS5G)ujj5iIGLDZ8Shl*Gw=)Yx_Lexf(5t)zrs.

Attendees marched 1.7 kilometers through the city streets, heard speeches from NGOs and activists, and, of course, dancXV5-Hxl*oZ$ap0pB#cG5tEV#wxh9lq&-6JBty4EOT%r7#Ylo3zed to K-pop.

Police1gKBA1zb#e_)Fu+mVnNGwyYi8BUtZzOUnGgHpwQSZ*Jit$RBTb and barriers separated the anti-LGBT groups who gathered to protest the festival. 

Thousands of anti-LGBT protesters gathered at Bupyeong &1@R*C_xcyJa&TJIRU@@mP1*zL*lpLYNiFj*3%P_RJm@Ae5DQ*Plaza, according to local media. There was at least one case of a protester attempting to disrupt the gathering.

Police announced last week some 3,000 personnel would police the festival, according to local mxwT8SnEII*B6!6srp0+LiR8@7a!sgo+_xFiT_37KQEv4aI8N(dedia Kyeongin.

Last year, anti-gay protesters physically blocked 300 LGBT supporters from leaving a plaza and beginningIXMQP($q3A^nKW!n6&&5sSt9el9OCRRM@ty6e^VZ4=%LbrN!yo the march.

Anti-gay hate

Homosexuality is legal in South Korea. But conservative attitudes, especiallRb14tQWSA539GNgR=dVRL_&oHjf5hUHTzbXeryUJ=3Tp)Bd_6@y among Christians, force many LGBTI Koreans to live in the closet.

There is currently no discrimination legislation to protect LGBTI Koreans. Protests against LGBTI events,44Bn!*(UTIYoJ1^dLxUZ)!dK2irdt2Y$U!H&dn@=Cj$c*sJIC1 usually led by conservative Christians, have become increasingly loud and violent.

A 2017 Korean Gallup Daily Opinion poll reported 66% of 19-29 year-olds supported same-sedK!)x&4*RTfRSjCEUMjo5mnaFt8TnCGlwKS$cJxu4YKbU(v0Zwx marriage, but 76% of those over 60 opposed it. 

Video shared on6&_!fUL&6qUhBS5tsy_w&aSoG#8M^YbsHTjZ%bV38Ef19ivIYjline shows distressing scenes of protesters, believed to be conservative Christians, shouting at pride attendees.

They also appear to grab flags, banners, and even attendees. The pride was attended by a lot of young LGBTI South Koreans wu3aTHO7cd8_&xcb9NrC=FN@hn)QJZ@&6Pj8lg@XVn7@Ryd+3$Gho were visibly shaken by the incident.

Police booked eight people involved but did not detain them. Organizers accused tLjas%&iF0242nIBi4RK-HNfF1vFgL3xIwbsAq-WzphtltCKPGjhe police of failing to stop the violence.

 "We've o8CW9w9MF_ZUGnX_JZmA0r0!ZKq!mZhsmwsAiz8gm*l^lfj1BI^rganized teams of human rights activists and lawyers to counter any illegitimate action by LGBT hate groups," organizers said in an Aug. 19 tweet.