Bangkok Pride

Bangkok Pride Festival
Years active	1999-2006, 2022-present
Inaugurated	October 31, 1999 (1999-10-31)
Most recent	June 1, 2024 (2024-06-01)
Next event	June 1, 2025 (2025-06-01)

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.[1][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]

With the legalization of same-sex marriage in Thailand on 23 January 2025, Naruemit Pride hosted a mass same-sex wedding at Siam Paragon.[13]

The next march is expected to be held 1 June 2025.[14]

References

1. "After a quarter century, Thailand's LGBTQ Pride Parade is seen as a popular and political success". AP News. 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
2. Bangkok, Chad de Guzman / (2024-06-01). "Bangkok Pride in Full Swing as Marriage Equality Seems Close". TIME. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
3. "Naruemit Pride flies the rainbow flag on the road to equality". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
4. "Thailand Celebrates Its 1st Bangkok Gay Pride Festival - The Cambodia Daily". english.cambodiadaily.com. 1999-11-10. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
5. "Bangkok celebrates first Pride parade in 16 years". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
6. Ratcliffe, Rebecca (2022-06-03). "'Like a bridge that connects us': Pride parade comes to Bangkok amid new hope for LGBT rights". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
7. "Thailand: Bangkok sees first LGBTQ Pride march in years – DW – 06/05/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
8. "Organisers collaborate on Bangkok Pride Festival 2024". nationthailand. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
9. "Thailand Kicks off Pride Month With Massive Parade in Bangkok". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
10. Ratcliffe, Rebecca; Siradapuvadol, Navaon (2023-06-03). "'Time of new hope': Optimism is high for Bangkok Pride after Thai elections". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
11. "Thousands join Bangkok Pride Parade". nationthailand. 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
12. "'First' as PM set to join Pride". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
13. Paddock, Richard C.; Suhartono, Muktita (2025-01-23). "Thailand Starts Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
14. "Thailand legalizes same-sex marriage in a first for Southeast Asia". NBC News. 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.