A large pink triangle is seen behind a rainbow flag during a gay pride celebration on June 27, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Agence France-Presse)
Seoul:
Thousands marched through central Seoul today in what organisers described as South Korea's biggest annual gay pride parade, with many celebrating the US Supreme Court's historic decision allowing same-sex couples nationwide to wed.
On the other side of police barriers around Seoul Plaza, thousands of Christian activists waved banners and chanted slogans at those taking part, condemning what they called an attempt to turn the city into "Sodom and Gomorrah".
Some held up banners reading "Hell is upon you! Repent!" towards the marchers, who responded by cheering and waving rainbow flags at them.
Police estimated more than 6,000 people took part in the hour-long parade in the heart of the capital to mark the finale of the annual Korea Queer Festival that started on June 9.
Organisers estimated the number of participants - gay, lesbian and bisexual and transgender people - at more than 20,000, which they described as the largest turnout for the event.
Homosexuality is not illegal in South Korea. But gay and transgender people live largely under the radar in a country that remains deeply conservative about matters of sexual identity and where many still regard homosexuality as a foreign phenomenon.
Gay rights activists say some progress has been made in recent years, and Friday's US Supreme Court decision cheered those taking part in the event.
Decorated trucks carrying dancers and banners reading "Marriage Equality" and "Solidarity under the Rainbow" drove across the city centre, followed by cheering crowds.
Many waved rainbow-coloured banners reading "Some people are gay. That's okay", while clapping, dancing and singing along with songs including Lady Gaga's "Born This Way".
"What happened in the US was incredible... I hope that I and my girlfriend will be able to celebrate the same here one day," said Suzy Lee, one of the participants.
"But we know it will take many, many years here in the South," the 28-year-old told AFP.
The annual parade - which began in 2000 - has in recent years attracted a growing number of participants, as well as increasing opposition from conservative Christian groups.
Previous parades were often marred by angry protests by Christians, who threw water bottles at marchers and tried to block their route by lying down in the street.
Concerns over public safety and potential clashes prompted police to ban the planned parade last month. A Seoul court later overturned the ban.
Sunday's event was held under heavy security involving thousands of police, with police barriers ringing the vast 1.3-hectare (3.2 acre) Seoul Plaza where people assembled for the parade.
Many protesters played hymns and shouted slogans through loudspeakers in an apparent attempt to drown out the cultural performances in the plaza before and after the parade.
"All of us have come here today to fight against these voices of hatred towards us," Kang Myeong-Jin, chief of the parade organising committee, told the marchers.
"It has been a long and tough road... but I'm very happy that the parade was held successfully," he said.
Christian activists this year tried in advance to block the event by filing competing applications for the same dates and venues.
Major Protestant church groups, including the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), have urged Seoul city council to ban the parade, arguing that it encourages homosexuality and will contribute to the spread of AIDS.
Bodies like the CCK - an alliance of churches that claims to represent around 12 million Christians - wield great social and political influence in the country.
On the other side of police barriers around Seoul Plaza, thousands of Christian activists waved banners and chanted slogans at those taking part, condemning what they called an attempt to turn the city into "Sodom and Gomorrah".
Some held up banners reading "Hell is upon you! Repent!" towards the marchers, who responded by cheering and waving rainbow flags at them.
Police estimated more than 6,000 people took part in the hour-long parade in the heart of the capital to mark the finale of the annual Korea Queer Festival that started on June 9.
Organisers estimated the number of participants - gay, lesbian and bisexual and transgender people - at more than 20,000, which they described as the largest turnout for the event.
Homosexuality is not illegal in South Korea. But gay and transgender people live largely under the radar in a country that remains deeply conservative about matters of sexual identity and where many still regard homosexuality as a foreign phenomenon.
Gay rights activists say some progress has been made in recent years, and Friday's US Supreme Court decision cheered those taking part in the event.
Decorated trucks carrying dancers and banners reading "Marriage Equality" and "Solidarity under the Rainbow" drove across the city centre, followed by cheering crowds.
Many waved rainbow-coloured banners reading "Some people are gay. That's okay", while clapping, dancing and singing along with songs including Lady Gaga's "Born This Way".
"What happened in the US was incredible... I hope that I and my girlfriend will be able to celebrate the same here one day," said Suzy Lee, one of the participants.
"But we know it will take many, many years here in the South," the 28-year-old told AFP.
The annual parade - which began in 2000 - has in recent years attracted a growing number of participants, as well as increasing opposition from conservative Christian groups.
Previous parades were often marred by angry protests by Christians, who threw water bottles at marchers and tried to block their route by lying down in the street.
Concerns over public safety and potential clashes prompted police to ban the planned parade last month. A Seoul court later overturned the ban.
Sunday's event was held under heavy security involving thousands of police, with police barriers ringing the vast 1.3-hectare (3.2 acre) Seoul Plaza where people assembled for the parade.
Many protesters played hymns and shouted slogans through loudspeakers in an apparent attempt to drown out the cultural performances in the plaza before and after the parade.
"All of us have come here today to fight against these voices of hatred towards us," Kang Myeong-Jin, chief of the parade organising committee, told the marchers.
"It has been a long and tough road... but I'm very happy that the parade was held successfully," he said.
Christian activists this year tried in advance to block the event by filing competing applications for the same dates and venues.
Major Protestant church groups, including the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), have urged Seoul city council to ban the parade, arguing that it encourages homosexuality and will contribute to the spread of AIDS.
Bodies like the CCK - an alliance of churches that claims to represent around 12 million Christians - wield great social and political influence in the country.
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