As far back as I can remember I’ve been an ally. I’ve been involved with Pride events in many countries, often through my involvement with Dragon Burn. A few years ago I attended Pride in Dublin, and was surprised to see how different it was to Pride in other countries.
Seoul Pride
Through living in China and getting involved in Dragon Burn, I made a number of Korean friends. We had already taken part in Ladyfest (a feminist festival for International Women’s Day), and several Pride events. So when a small group of us decided to travel to Seoul for the parade, it felt like a natural next step.
After meeting at a friend’s place, we headed to the fairgrounds where the parade would begin. The space was alive with colour. Local LGBTQ+ businesses had set up stalls; everything from cake vendors to sex toy shops. Many were dressed boldly, expressing themselves through rainbow flags, bright outfits, or dressing in drag. One man, dressed as Jesus, carried a sign that simply stated, “I’m okay with it.”
Eventually it was time for the parade to start. We exited the grounds to walk the streets. From a nearby balcony, a small group of Christian protesters held signs warning of hellfire and damnation. I laughed. Jesus was with us, after all, and he said he was okay with it.
We marched on in good spirits, filling the streets of Seoul with joy and rainbows. There was a sense of freedom in the air. At one point, we passed a man with a sign offering “dad hugs.” Later, we found ourselves walking behind Jesus. “Went to Pride, ended up following Jesus,” I joked.
After a long march we started to disperse. An after party had been advertised with posters all over the fairground, so many of us went there after getting some food. All-in-all it was a joyful day, people free to be themselves, or to show their support for the community.
Dublin Pride
I was excited to experience Dublin Pride. I’d seen Pride in Asia, now it was time to see how it worked back home.
The setup felt very different. The streets were cordoned off like they are for any other parade like St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Eve. We waited for it to start, grabbing coffee nearby to pass the time.
When the parade began, it felt less like a celebration of community and more like a corporate showcase. There were floats, and many were branded. Google, IBM, and other tech companies waving rainbow flags and playing music. Sure, LGBTQ+ organisations were represented, but the vibe felt overwhelmingly commercial.
There were moments I enjoyed. The marching bands, especially the Gardaí’s1 brass band at the back, were lively and engaging. But even that felt more like PR than protest.
It wasn’t a bad day, and I’m glad Pride exists in Ireland. But it lacked the soul I’d felt in Seoul. It didn’t feel like a community coming together to assert its presence or demand recognition. It felt like a stage-managed event where corporations showed us what we were allowed to celebrate.
It felt hollow. Impersonal.
Maybe I’m reading it wrong. Maybe I missed something important. But walking through Dublin that day, all I could think was:
I miss Asia.
- The Irish name for “police” ↩︎
