Rain Brings Rainbows

Love the Love

Being your truest self can be incredibly difficult when being in a foreign country where laws, social norms, and activism is all drastically different from what you are familiar with. When invited to attend Seoul's Queer Pride Festival in Seoul Plaza only after a few days of living in the country, I was hesitant. I knew that, historically at least, there was a don't ask don't tell kind of attitude towards LGBT+ issues and that it was not something commonly discussed in the public. As someone who identifies with the LGBT+ community, it was so nice to know that there was a large community in the city that was outspoken and open after feeling as if I needed to keep that side of my identity under wraps. At the event, there were tons of booths handing out information, merch, art, and other items to keep attendees entertained. Many embassies had tables set up where you could find someone to speak your language, inform you of the events happening, and how to best support the communities during your time in Seoul. There were also stage performances from groups in all art forms, speeches, as well as announcements from local figures about pushing for better activism in the future. Seoul Plaza was decked out in rainbows and fun for hours where you could take pictures with drag queens or just sit on the grass and enjoy the company of those around you. Even the rain couldn't keep the joy away. As the actual parade part of the celebration happened, it started pouring rain. Not to worry! Everyone worked together to create an umbrella canopy of sorts that made it so most people stayed somewhat dry.

Not all Sunshine

As to be expected at any large event, there were also very loud and adamant protestors that stayed outside the venue. The walls around Seoul Plaza and the police kept the two groups separated and they were out of sight, however, they had rather loud speakers that did bring down the mood every once and a while as the constant droning of the speaker was annoying. The good thing is that the community on the inside was amazing at creating a type of counter-sound in which those in attendance often were so focused on the main event that all the other noise became background sound. Additionally, due to the rain, many people left which made the parade route a little confusing to start. Despite all of this it was still an amazing experience that left me and others that I came with feeling validated and accepted. 

What will you do?

My recommendation is to bring the usual survival materials. A charger for your phone, umbrella, water bottle, and general items such as public transportation cards or cash. If you plan to stay for some time you might also want to bring a picnic mat or blanket as the ground, while lovely and grassy, can stain your clothes or get uncomfortable after a few hours. If you want to dress festively you should! Just be sure to remember that this is a family event and is very different from other LGBT+ events in other countries. It is still the norm to dress in an appropriate manner, avoiding any loud messages. Make sure you go in a group or at least two or three. It can be scary and also dangerous to attend an event with so much law enforcement and political protest alone- for your mental ease and security, bring a buddy!

At the end of the day just have fun and celebrate who you are. As the world slowly starts moving on from the stand-still caused by COVID-19 it is exciting that events like these are happening again so get out there and take advantage of that!