30 Jul 2018

Watch: East Timor Celebrates Second Pride Parade

Asia's youngest nation celebrates LGBT pride in the capital, Dili.

East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, celebrated its second annual pride parade on July 21 with widespread popular support.

Some 1,500 marched in the capital, according to organizer Natalino Guterres. "It was great to see people of all generations coming to walk together," he said

Some 1,500 marched in the capital, according to organizer Natalino Guterres. "It was great to see people of all generations coming to walk together," he said.

Last year, its prime minister, Rui Maria de Araujo, supported the fledgling movement, stating that "discrimination, disrespect and abuse toward people, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, does not provide any benefit to our nation."

The small country of just 1.3 million people is bucking regional rising homophobia in Malaysia and Indonesia, from which the country got independence in 2002.

Watch a documentary screened at the parade below:

East Timor