Taking Pride

Written by Colin Farabee.

Photographed by Isaiah Winters, Kim Yunkyoung, and Sarah Pittman.

Gwangju’s second Queer Culture Festival took place recently, a wonderful celebration of diversity and a chance for the people of not only Gwangju but all of Jeollanam-do to come out and celebrate their community’s growth. Living in Korea as an LGBTQ+ person is still not the easiest thing to do, so there was a mixing of emotions written on everyone’s face. During the march around the downtown area, when the flags were waving and people were dancing, where two men or two women could walk holding hands in the street, there was explosive celebration. Every single asexual, transsexual, and queer person had a few sweet hours of being themselves with no judgment and, aside from a few protesters, no hate.

There were, however, more emotions there than just happiness. Wandering through the crowd, looking at all of the different faces, I sensed from them a feeling of relief and hope. Relief at the chance to march and sing and be themselves for a few short, sweet hours, and hope in looking to the future, towards a Korea that they believe can love them the way they deserve to be loved, as all human beings deserve, and desire, to be loved.

The Author
Colin Farabee is a 27-year-old Californian working as an English teacher in Gwangju’s Sangmu District. His hobbies include extreme sports, riflery, and teaching historical European martial arts. He also writes adventure modules and plays lots of nerdy games, such as D&D and WH40k.