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For the first time in 16 years, counter to the frustrating recent slowdown in progress toward LGBTQ equality in Thailand Bangkok saw its first gay pride parade since anyone can remember (over 15 years at least)
The Bangkok Naruemit Pride Parade was held on Sunday, June 6 right at the starting gate weekend of international gay pride month Although even in the remotest villages, everyone has multiple friends/family, LGBTQ equality is not assured legally in Thailand….. yet.
Of course, this first in the forever gay parade was modest by European/American comparisons, but it stretched around a kilometer going from the Hindu temple at Pan and Silom Rds and dumped everyone conveniently at Soi 2 Silom, home to the city’s largest cluster of gay bars
The whole event popped up on almost everyone’s radar a scant 10 days before when Chadchart Sittipunt, who as of May 22 is Bangkok’s governor-elect, threw his full support behind it
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And that support is genuine as, being already elected, he wasn’t just currying the rainbow vote. He also attended the event. Also in attendance was tall handsome Korn Chatikavanij, Thailand’s Finance Minister, who the gays have thirsted after for years (sorry guys , not gay)
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Regardless of the late promotional start, local businesses seemed to be tripping over themselves to show their support – hotels all over were decorated in rainbow colors, a film festival was organized, shopping malls raised pride flags in advance, and street shops all seemed to switch to selling rainbow-colored merchandise.
Many commented that this successful event lays the foundation for what will surely be much bigger events in the future.
PS. According to an organizer’s document, there was rainbow color coding to put an order in the parade. Among the colors/categories: Violet (“spirituality, healing, witch, and religion”); Orange (“gender, welfare, HIV network”; Green (“making sex toys legal, sexuality” and…inexplicably…”safe abortion”?), etc., etc. There was a jam-packed sex workers float (“Sex Work is Real Work!”) – not sure which category they came under – maybe Yellow “Businesses that end discrimination against LGBT workers”?).
Review by Glenn John
Once upon a loooong time ago, Glenn moved from NYC to Bangkok (pre-covid, the most visited city on Earth
Forbes mag.et al) and suddenly he wants to let everyone know a bit more about Thailand (per capita, the
queerest country on Earth - his stats) and maybe some of the LGBTQI+ happenings in the neighboring
countries also.Extra photos by Nicky Guy and Kate M
