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Phuket ramps up ‘Pride Month’ celebrations

Phuket ramps up ‘Pride Month’ celebrations

PHUKET: Phuket Pride activities began in Patong on Saturday (June 1), marking the start of a month of celebrating the LGBTQI+ community in Phuket and all over the world.


By The Phuket News

Tuesday 4 June 2024 06:07 PM


 

Phuket’s Pride activities got underway as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin officially opened the ‘Bangkok Pride Festival 2024’ last Friday (May 31), then joined the parade through the streets of the capital last Saturday, joined by some 170,000 supporters of Pride Month under the banner ‘Celebration of Love, celebrating equal marriage’.

To highlight the government’s efforts to recognise the LGBTQI+ community, official reports noted that the government is pushing for the Equal Marriage Act.

The goal is to “celebrate the basic rights of all Pride people” whereby “everyone is entitled”, said one report.

The government is also to have appropriate changes made to allow
the job title ‘Sex Worker’. “The government is ready to push for worldwide recognition [as LGBTQI+ friendly] by 2030,” said another report.

Joining PM Srettha for the Pride Parade in Bangkok last Saturday were Minister of Tourism and Sports Sermsak Phongpanich and Paethongthan Shinawatra, Chairperson of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee.

In its “drive to make Thailand a destination for diverse groups of people from all over the world”, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has organised events across the country throughout the month of June. The TAT expects more than 860,000 people to attend the events, and generate some B10 billion for the national economy through tourism, with Phuket playing its part.

PATONG 

Patong Municipality is holding the Phuket Pride 2024 events under the slogan “Equality For All – Be Yourself, Be Respect, Be Proud.”

To get the ball rolling in Phuket, teams took to the sands on Patong Beach near the western end of Bangla Rd for the Beach Volleyball Phuket Pride Open 2024 last Friday (June 1).

Played over two days, Saturday and Sunday, the tournament saw 12 teams of LGBTQ+ players vie for their share of the prize purse of more than B28,000.

Before Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri declared the tournament underway, Supakorn Suwan, Chairman of the tournament organiser Andaman Power Phuket Group, explained that the first-place prize was B12,000 cash along with a trophy and medal. 

First runner-up received B7,000 with a trophy and medal, second runner-up received B4,000 plus a trophy and medal, while third runner-up received B2,000.

In addition, there was an MVP award along with a trophy and prizes for the most popular team and another prize for the best uniforms

From tonight (June 3), the centre of attention moves to Soi Paradise, the heartland of the LGBTQI+ community in Phuket, where a ‘Night Party LGBTQI+ Community’ is being held each night through to Sunday (June 9).

A ‘Sunset Pride Cruise Party’ will be held on Wednesday (June 5), with the ninth edition of the ‘Miss Queen Andaman Power 2024’ pageant. “that searches for rainbow pearls of the Andaman”, to be held at the Jungceylon shopping mall from 5pm Friday (June 7).

Organisers describe the pageant as “the ultimate TG (Transgender) girl contest, a platform for creative expression under the concept of "smart, beautiful, healthy and volunteer". Under the banner ‘Equality For All - Be Yourself, Be Respect, Be Proud’, contestants are competing for total prize money of more than B70,000.

Jungceylon will also host the ‘Drag Queen of Pride 2024’ show on Thursday (June 8).

The Phuket Pride events in Patong will culminate with a ‘Pride Parade’ along the beachfront on Sunday (June 9).

“March in the Phuket Pride Parade, celebrating Thailand’s move towards marriage equality. The fabulous march will start at Duangjitt Resort, strut down Thaweewong Road (Patong Beach Road), turn onto Bangla Road, and culminate at Jungceylon. It’s going to be a spectacle, darling!” said the notice announcing the parade.

“Mark your calendars, pull out your fiercest outfits, and join us for Phuket Pride Week. You are the glitter that makes our parade shine!”

Motorists were advised to avoid Prachanukroh Rd and Thaweewong Rd and use an alternate route while the parade is underway from 5pm to 7pm.

TOWN PRIDE

To mark its Phuket Pride celebrations, Phuket City Municipality has adorned its major attractions in rainbow colours, including the popular-and-now-renamed ‘Rainbow Bear’ ‒ a large ‘teddy bear’ inflatable standing several storeys high near the Chartered Bank Intersection in the Phuket Old Town area.

The Chartered Bank Intersection itself now has ‘rainbow pedestrian crossings’, and several other major features throughout the town, including ‘Nong Ya Ya’’ at the Suriyadej Circle, are now also in rainbow colours.

Six ‘Pride’ checkpoints have been set up throughout the town where people can take photos. Those who collect photos at all six checkpoints and post the photos online with the the hashtag #IDiscoverPhuketPRIDE stand to win prizes. Winners will be announced on July 5.

Also, a ‘Pride Wall’ has been set up at the dragon statue in Queen Sirikit Park where people can freely leave their messages in support of Pride Month.

To bring the month of celebrations to a close. Phuket Town will host a parade on June 29 to be led by a star cast of Thai celebrities, including actress Grace Patsita, singer Mum Laconics, actors Tae Nanthasai, Biw Nattapon, Big Nathaschai and actress Tai Chatchadaporn.

Also joining the parade will be beauty pageant celebrities Mainta Farmer (Miss Thailand 2022), Tharina Botes (Miss Thailand World 2024) and Phuket’s own Lin Malin (Miss Grand Thailand 2024).

In announcing the ‘Discover Phuket Price’ events, Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas last month emphasised the collaborative effort between the municipality, government agencies, civil society groups and the private sector to make the month-long festival a reality.

The goal is to showcase Phuket as a welcoming destination for all and to foster understanding and acceptance of diverse sexualities in society, Mayor Saroj said.

“Phuket, known internationally as a tourist hotspot, embraces its status as a city open to various rights and diversities. Among these is the LGBTQ+ community, which advocates for the rights of individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities,” Mayor Saroj noted.

"Discover Phuket Pride 2024 @ Old Town" promises to be a celebration of diversity, equality, and unity, reinforcing Phuket’s reputation as an inclusive and welcoming destination for all travellers. With its blend of cultural heritage, entertainment, and advocacy, the event is set to become a highlight on Phuket’s annual calendar, attracting visitors from around the world,” he added.