Africa’s biggest Pride draws crowds of 18,000

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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.