The Prime Minister of Thailand has announced his support for a bid by Bangkok to host World Pride in 2030 during his participation in the official Bangkok Pride Parade on the weekend.
Thailand’s government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has put LGBTQ rights front and centre since he came to office last year.
In March, Thailand, momentously, passed a same-sex marriage law.
In its effort to promote gender diversity, Thailand will not stop at legalising same-sex marriage, which will become effective this year, according to the Prime Minister.
“Thailand will continue to support gender diversity after successfully passing the marriage equality bill. We are looking forward to pushing for gender recognition and sex worker laws,” he said.
“Our next aim is to host World Pride in 2030 together.”
He was speaking at the start of the Pride parade at the National Stadium alongside other senior party members.
Visitors from around the world are celebrating Pride Month in Thailand this June. Events are scheduled in several Thai destinations, as Thailand works to become a top “LGBTQ+ Friendly Destination.”
Starting on the weekend, Bangkok Pride will continue for a month and include many LGBTQ+-related events at venues in Bangkok and other provinces.
The government is expecting 860,000 people to take part in Pride activities in June. In addition, it is hoped to generate ฿4 billion for the economy.
Significantly, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) sees the LGBTQ foreign tourism market as fundamentally important to Thailand’s foreign tourism recovery.
It notes that such visitors spend more lavishly and indulge in longer stays in the country on average.
Thailand, however, has a long way to go on gay rights.
Thailand was ranked in 40th place in the world out of 175 countries in a Williams Institute study showing support and laws for the LGBTQ community.
Speaking at the Pride Parade, the Prime Minister said the journey to create equality for all has come a long way.
“In the past, everyone had to be patient when they shouldn’t have had to,” the Prime Minister said.
“Until today, the push for the Marriage Equality Act is nearing the finish line. I want to assure everyone here that this government will move forward with the public sector no matter what.
“Equal marriage, sex worker, gender identity. I am very proud that our country warmly embraces and celebrates Bangkok Pride Festival 2024.
“I think this is an important change in another dimension and I would like to forward this pride and celebration of the right to love to more than 20 provinces across the country.
“Our next aim is to host World Pride in 2030 together.”
วันนี้การเดินทางเพื่อสร้างความเท่าเทียมของเราทุกคนมาไกลจากเดิมมากแล้วครับ
ที่ผ่านมา ทุกคนต้องอดทนทั้งที่ไม่ควรต้องอดทน จนวันนี้พวกเราผลักดัน พ.ร.บ.สมรสเท่าเทียมจนใกล้จะถึงเส้นชัยแล้ว ผมขอยืนยันกับทุกคนตรงนี้ว่า รัฐบาลนี้จะเดินหน้าไปกับภาคประชาชนไม่ว่าเป็นเรื่อง สมรสเท่าเทียม,… pic.twitter.com/8vgjiwyemO
— Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) June 1, 2024
World Pride, licensed by InterPride and organized by one of its members, is an event that promotes visibility and awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) issues on an international level.
Following on from the success of World Pride Sydney in 2023, in 2025 World Pride heads to Washington DC in the United States and 2026 to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
The bidding process for the 2028 event is underway this year with the 2030 city expected to be known in 2026.
Last Updated on Jun 3, 2024
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