Seoul Queer Parade draws 50,000, fostering 'welcome' through 'intersection'

Seoul's city center transformed into a vibrant "space of welcome" as an estimated 50,000 people gathered for the 27th Seoul Queer Parade on June 13. Under the slogan "Intersection: Connecting Differences," the event celebrated diversity amidst soaring temperatures, with participants waving rainbow flags and dancing to K-pop.

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The monk who tied the bracelet told me to live freely like this bracelet, which has no obstacles anywhere, and it was a great comfort.

The parade saw participation from a wide array of groups, including civil organizations, foreign embassies, and religious communities. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism offered participants colorful bracelets and messages of freedom, while the Q&A and Yeonggwang Jeil Church, representing welcoming Protestant communities, extended messages of inclusion. Despite counter-protests from some Christian groups displaying anti-LGBTQ+ messages, parade-goers passed by with smiles and waves, many finding solace and affirmation.

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I came out with the hope that it could be a comfort to LGBTQ+ people and queer believers that not all Protestant churches are discriminatory, and that there are welcoming churches.

Moments of connection were evident throughout the day. A middle-aged woman on a passing bus waved enthusiastically at the parade, receiving cheers in return. Parents from the LGBTQ+ Parents Association embraced a young participant, bringing tears to his partner's eyes, who reflected on the desire for parental acceptance. Even strangers offered gestures of solidarity, with one man distributing rainbow-colored rice cakes to celebrate his 100-day-old child.

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It is natural for the National Human Rights Commission to stand in solidarity with and accompany the socially vulnerable and minorities.

The event underscored a growing desire for acceptance and belonging. For many, like a 15-year-old named Mise, the parade was a space to express their identity openly. Others, like a 25-year-old participant, found comfort in being able to hold their partner's hand freely in public. The overwhelming sentiment was one of joy, solidarity, and hope for a society that embraces all its members.

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My family is devoutly Christian, so there's an atmosphere where I can't even mention my identity. I cried thinking how great it would be if my mother had also embraced and understood me like this.