Over 5000 people marched through the streets of Johannesburg Saturday in the 10th annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade to promote the tolerance of homosexuals in South African society. The marchers, many dressed in flamboyant drag, paid respect to activist Simon Nkoli who died of AIDS-related illness this year, before marching on to an all-night concert and party. The colourful annual procession was for the first time marked by a high turnout of lesbians and black gays, still relatively closeted in the country, organiser Charon Copper told the SAPA news agency. The South African constitution upholds gay rights but activists are also pushing for same-sex marriages and the right of gay couples to adopt children.–AFP