Vietnam hosts third gay pride parade as attitudes soften

HANOI - Agence France-Presse

eople dance under a large rainbow flag during Vietnam's gay pride parade in Hanoi on Aug. 3. AFP Photo

Around 300 activists led a colorful parade through Hanoi Aug. 3 in the nation’s largest ever gay pride event, as communist Vietnam shows signs of increasing tolerance of sexual difference.

The city streets were awash with rainbow flags, as a mainly young crowd cycled and danced through the capital urging an end to discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Homosexuality remains taboo in Vietnam, but a series of gradual advances, including the removal of fines for same-sex wedding parties, have been welcomed by the LGBT community in recent years.

In 2012 lawmakers even briefly considered legalizing gay marriage – a move which would have thrust the authoritarian country to the forefront of gay rights in Asia – but stopped short.        

Yesterday’s event was the third gay pride parade in Vietnam and attracted a wide range of people including local activists, foreigners and curious by-standers.