First gay pride parade held in Vietnam

Cyclists armed with balloons and rainbow flags cycled through Hanoi, marking the first gay pride parade to be held in Vietnam.

Decorated with balloons and rainbow-coloured flags, a convoy of 100 cyclists made its way through the capital city of Vietnam in its very first gay pride parade.
Decorated with balloons and rainbow-coloured flags, a convoy of 100 cyclists made its way through the capital city of Vietnam in its very first gay pride parade.

The communist state today held its very first gay pride parade with dozens of cyclists passing through Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

According to international reports, the event wasn't interrupted by police even though the LGBT community lacked official permission to hold the parade.

"It's time to eliminate discrimination against people of different sexuality. I am straight, but my cousin is a lesbian," Kyle Tran, 19, told reporters.

Homosexuality remains largely taboo in Vietnam, where Confucian social mores still dominate. Moreover, gays are routinely portrayed in the media as comical figures or as people suffering from a condition that can be treated.

But in a surprise move late last month, Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong said that it might be time to consider a change in the law to recognise same-sex marriage.