Fridae

The Bangkok Pride Coaliton (BPC), organizer of Asia's largest gay and lesbian cultural and entertainment event, has received approval from Bangkok authorities for the city's 4th annual gay parade. The November 17th event will be the finale of Bangkok Pride Week 2002, a 10-day series of events beginning on November 8.

This year's parade will be produced in cooperation with the Prime Minister's Silom Walking Street Project and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. A giant stage show following the 5:00 PM parade will include traditional Thai costumes and dancing in celebration of the Loi Krathong Festival two days later.

Past parades have attracted crowds of as many as 75,000 people. Organizers believe the event will draw more than twice as many this year. BPC directors believe that the annual parade already attracts thousands of visitors from Europe, Australia, North America and throughout Asia. The BPC plans to develop Bangkok Pride into a major tourism event on the same scale as large Pride events in places like Sydney, San Francisco and Berlin.

Other Bangkok Pride Week 2002 events include a major gay and lesbian film festival produced in conjunction with the Goethe Institute, parties, an art show, tennis, volleyball, bowling and badminton competitions, the third annual Utopia Awards, and the second "Pride in the Park" festival in Lumpini Park on November 16.

Bangkok Pride Coalition is a membership group made up of community-based organizations and Bangkok businesses. BPC's objectives are to organize entertainment and information events that promote a positive image of the gay and lesbian community in Bangkok, and to raise money for charities in Thailand. Charities chosen for 2002 include programs that care for homeless and abused children as well as children and adults with HIV: The Mercy Center, The Girl's Home, Alden House, and the Hospice of St. Clair.

(Source: Bangkok Pride Coaliton press release)