Africa’s biggest Pride draws crowds of 18,000

More than 18,000 people attended Africa’s biggest Pride celebration in Johannesburg on Saturday, organisers said.

The event in South Africa is the continent’s largest gay celebration.

Although same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination protections are legal in South Africa, many other African countries criminalise homosexuality.

The theme of this year’s parade was “We are all African”.

Organiser Luiz de Barros told AFP: “We are aware of the fact that LGBT people across Africa are being arrested, their human rights are under threat and it’s a growing phenomenon on the continent.

“South Africa having an enlightened constitution, we have a responsibility to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Africa,” he said.