Hundreds march to mark 35 years of Pride Johannesburg in South Africa

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Hundreds of people marched Saturday in South Africa to mark 35 years of Pride Johannesburg, an annual event that has been critical in advocating equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

The march in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, was a colorful spectacle but also an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to highlight critical issues such as the discrimination most members of the community still face despite South Africa’s progressive stance on equality issues.

Johannesburg resident Alice Mpholo, was one of the people who supported the march.

“Pride is really kind of reminiscent of just the rights and the opportunities that this community has fought so hard for," she said. “And it’s not just in South Africa. It’s across the continent.”

Mpholo said there were still many countries on the African continent where LGBTQ+ people's rights are not recognized.

“They are being prosecuted. They are being killed just for existing. So a day like this is a day for celebration, but it is a day to appreciate the privilege of being able to be myself and be with people that are just like me”, said Mpholo.

Bruce Conway, another participant, said the event provides a safe space for the community to express themselves.

“I’m here today to celebrate myself and other people who embrace their identity in radical ways and ways that we don’t normally appreciate on a day to day way. And I’m here to experience love in multiple capacities," he said.

Traffic around the central district of Sandton was diverted to accommodate the march.

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This story corrects the reference to Johannesburg as the capital.