Bangkok Pride Explained

Bangkok Pride Festival is an annual series of events which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) life in Bangkok, Thailand.^{[1] [2]} The festival culminates in a pride parade held on Silom Road in June. The event is hosted by Naruemit Pride, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.^[3]

History

Thailand's first LGBT pride celebration was the “Bangkok Gay Festival", held over Halloween weekend in 1999.^[4]

In 2022, "Naruemit Pride 2022" was held as the country's first official pride parade since 2006.^{[5] [6]} Founded by Ann "Waaddao" Chumaporn, the march was supported by Governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt.^{[7] [8]}

In 2023, leading opposition candidate Pita Limjaroenrat participated in the parade on 4 June 2023, along with Paetongtarn Shinawatra.^{[9] [10] [11]}

In 2024, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin became the first Thai prime minister to participate in the festival.^[12]

The next march is expected to be held 1 June 2025. This will be the first march since the legalization of same-sex marriage in Thailand on 22 January 2025.^[13]

References

1. Web site: 2024-06-01 . After a quarter century, Thailand's LGBTQ Pride Parade is seen as a popular and political success . 2024-09-25 . AP News . en.
2. Web site: Bangkok . Chad de Guzman / . 2024-06-01 . Bangkok Pride in Full Swing as Marriage Equality Seems Close . 2024-09-25 . TIME . en.
3. News: Naruemit Pride flies the rainbow flag on the road to equality . 2024-09-25 . Bangkok Post . en.
4. Web site: 1999-11-10 . Thailand Celebrates Its 1st Bangkok Gay Pride Festival - The Cambodia Daily . 2024-09-25 . english.cambodiadaily.com . en-US.
5. News: Bangkok celebrates first Pride parade in 16 years . 2024-09-25 . Bangkok Post . en.
6. News: Ratcliffe . Rebecca . 2022-06-03 . ‘Like a bridge that connects us’: Pride parade comes to Bangkok amid new hope for LGBT rights . 2024-09-27 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
7. Web site: Thailand: Bangkok sees first LGBTQ Pride march in years – DW – 06/05/2022 . 2024-09-25 . dw.com . en.
8. Web site: 2024-05-22 . Organisers collaborate on Bangkok Pride Festival 2024 . 2024-09-25 . nationthailand . en-US.
9. Web site: Thailand Kicks off Pride Month With Massive Parade in Bangkok . 2024-09-25 . thediplomat.com . en-US.
10. News: Ratcliffe . Rebecca . Siradapuvadol . Navaon . 2023-06-03 . ‘Time of new hope’: Optimism is high for Bangkok Pride after Thai elections . 2024-09-25 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
11. Web site: 2023-06-04 . Thousands join Bangkok Pride Parade . 2024-09-25 . nationthailand . en-US.
12. News: 'First' as PM set to join Pride . 2024-09-25 . Bangkok Post . en.
13. Web site: 2024-09-25 . Thailand legalizes same-sex marriage in a first for Southeast Asia . 2024-09-25 . NBC News . en.