The San Francisco annual pride parade is one of the biggest and most spectacular celebrations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identity anywhere in the world.
The theme of this year's festival was "Color the World with Pride" -- a message of inclusivity one of the event's "Grand Marshals", or honorary representatives, has been trying to champion.
South African-born attorney and human rights activist Melanie Nathan campaigned to bring around 20 LGBT Africans to march with her in the parade.
But not one of the applicants was granted a visa by the U.S. State Department.
Rebecca Bowring reports from San Francisco.
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An estimated million people turned out to take part…
There was music…dancing…and extravagant costumes.
But among the revelers…few African faces.
The theme "Color Our World With Pride" was an opportunity for advocates to call for the GLOBAL decriminalization of homosexuality.
They argue sexual identity, and the freedom to express it, is a basic human right.
South African-born activist Melanie Nathan, one of the faces of Pride 2014, has been fighting to defend LGBT people in countries such as Uganda, Cameroon and the Gambia.
SOT Melanie Nathan, Attorney and Human Rights Activist
Africa is criminalizing homosexuality through old Draconian penal codes and through anti-homosexuality legislation. For that reason, we want to bring African voices to the United States of America to tell their stories of the resulting persecution.
Nathan invited 21 LGBT Africans to San Francisco to march with her contingent in the parade.
She raised money on a crowd-funding website for plane tickets and accommodation…
But the U.S. State Department turned down every visa application…unconvinced the applicants would return to countries that might persecute them.
This Spring, Canada and Sweden denied visas to LGBT Ugandans seeking to attend gay rights-related events.
Nathan says she hoped the U.S. might respond differently - especially since Washington recently imposed sanctions on Kampala for its anti-homosexuality stance.
She's disappointed…but undeterred.
SOT Melanie Nathan, Attorney and Human Rights Activist
To the people in Africa, we're here marching for you. You're not criminals, you're beautiful people just like us here in San Francisco today.
Among Nathan's contingent was a gay man from Zambia. Chalwe says he's now finally able to be himself…and wishes others could enjoy the same freedom.
SOT Chalwe, Zambian Pride Parade Participant
The best message I would send to my brothers and sisters out there is that it's OK to be who you are, irrespective of where you're born or whatever your family background. We are who we are and we are all humans and it all starts from that.
UPSOT Melanie Nathan
In 77 countries around the world, being LGBT is illegal…Africa Pride...
Some of the Africans Melanie Nathan invited here are currently in hiding.
She says every one of them was willing to take whatever risk was necessary to draw attention to what's happening in their countries.
She calls THEM the true human rights defenders.
Rebecca Bowring, San Francisco.
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