10,000 march against anti-gay laws (boosted by this blog)

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

Ten thousand people marched through Amsterdam last month to seek the repeal of 76 countries’ anti-gay laws. Many of them wore “Erasing 76 Crimes” T-shirts as they carried placards honoring 59 heroes of the worldwide struggle for recognition of the human rights of sexual minorities.

Marchers wearing black T-shirts with "Erasing 76 Crimes" on the back carry the flags of nations of anti-gay laws. (Photo courtesy of Pride Walk) — Marchers wearing black “Erasing 76 Crimes” T-shirts carried the flags of nations with anti-gay laws. (Photo courtesy of Pride Walk)

In a “Flags of Shame” protest, marchers carried the flags of dozens of countries with anti-LGBTI laws.

The ambassador of Canada, co-chair of the international Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), spoke to the crowd. Among the demonstrators were 125 participants from 14 embassies of countries that are members of the ERC. Protesters included three ambassadors, two consul-generals, other high-ranking officials, and some 100 diplomatic staff members.

Two of the honored Heroes of Our Community at Pride Walk 2018 were activists whose court challenges overturned anti-gay laws in their countries: Caleb Orozco of Belize and Jason Jones of Trinidad. (Photos courtesy of Pride Walk)

Troop of marchers attired in Erasing 76 Crimes t-shirts. (Photo courtesy of YouTube) — Troop of marchers attired in Erasing 76 Crimes T-shirts. (Photo courtesy of YouTube)

During the closing ceremony, Pride Walk organizer Hans Verhoeven expressed thanks to the Erasing 76 Crimes blog for its work. The blog helped compile information about countries with anti-gay laws and nominated many of the LGBT rights movement’s heroes. March organizers honored a total of 59 activists from Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. Those activists represented the thousands of “Heroes of Our Community” working for justice throughout the world.

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Pride Walk was celebrated on July 28, marking the beginning of Pride Week in Amsterdam.

The 76 countries targeted in the march were the 74 countries with anti-homosexuality laws and two countries (Russia and Lithuania) with anti-“gay propaganda” laws.