Bangkok Pride 2004 Celebrates, 14 – 21 November

The 6th Bangkok Pride celebration of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual communities (GLBT) is scheduled to kick off on 14 November with a whole series of events, parties, celebrations, sports, awards, and the famed parade. This year Bangkok Pride, with the theme of “Fresh”, takes place from 14 – 21 November. The annual event is held to promote diversity, awareness and tolerance in Thai society, and for each citizen to live in harmony regardless of their sexual preferences. This year’s theme reflects the numerous and colorful entities who exist in Thailand’s GLBT communities and have contributed to Thai society in many different ways.

The opening event, the annual Pride In The Park @Lumpini Park, will take place on Sunday November 14, and will be a whole day packed with activities including exhibitions, volleyball tournament, swimsuit contest, and lucky draws. Other activities during the week include badminton, bowling and tennis tournaments, picnics, site visits and a dinner cruise. The highly regarded Utopia Awards will be handed out on Friday, November 17, to honor prominent individuals and groups who have worked tirelessly for the GLBT communities. There will also be many parties hosted by the various entertainment venues who are proud sponsors of Bangkok Pride 2004. All Bangkok Pride 2004 details can be found at www.bangkokpride.org.

The weeklong celebration will be concluded with the renowned and colorful Pride parade, a unique extravaganza rarely seen in this part of the world and one which has attracted many visitors from all over the world to view and to participate in over the past few years.

Bangkok Pride Coalition, organizer of Bangkok Pride, is a not-for-profit, all volunteer membership organization that, produces entertainment and informational events to promote a positive image of the gay and lesbian community in Thailand, and raises money for needy Thai charities. The English language equivalent of the Bangkok Pride Thai language theme is “Freedom, Diversity, Unity”, and recognizes the great diversity in Thailand’s gay and lesbian communities. Information on Bangkok Pride Coalition and Bangkok Pride 2004 can be found at http://www.bangkokpride.org.

For further information please contact:

Thai language contact:

Somporn Amnuaysirikul,

Co-Chair

Bangkok Pride Coalition

Tel: 01-827-7669

[email protected]

English language contact:

Lee Harris,

Co-Chair

Bangkok Pride Coalition

Tel: 01-667-3012

[email protected]

or

Tom Van Blarcom / Surat Tantanawiwat

TQPR Thailand

Tel: 02 260-5820

Fax: 02 260-5847/8

Email: [email protected]