UNFPA Thailand Supports Equality at Bangkok Pride

UNFPA Thailand joins Bangkok Pride 2025 to celebrate love, equality, and visibility while spotlighting the right to legal gender recognition.

           Bangkok, 1–2 June 2025 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Thailand joins Pride Month celebrations this year with active participation in Bangkok Pride 2025 and a co-organized Pride Talk, underlining its enduring commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and human rights. In partnership with the United Nations Country Team in Thailand, civil society, the private sector, and the government, UNFPA is proud to stand in solidarity with the LGBTI community under the global theme “Born This Way.”

           This year’s Pride celebrations mark a significant milestone for Thailand—the historic passage of the Marriage Equality Bill, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The event also sees the official launch of Bangkok’s bid to host World Pride 2030. As one of the largest Pride events in Asia, Bangkok Pride Parade 2025 symbolizes a turning point for inclusive societies and reflects the growing momentum for equality and acceptance across the region.

           “We celebrate not only the law but the love, courage, and resilience of Thailand’s LGBTI community,” says Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office of UNFPA Thailand. “Marriage equality is a profound achievement, but it must not be the final destination. Our collective work continues to ensure that no one is left behind—especially transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals who still face gaps in legal recognition and protection.”

           The Pride Parade on Sunday, 1 June 2025, spans a 2-kilometre route from National Stadium to CentralWorld and is expected to be the largest of its kind in Asia. It brings together thousands of participants, including Cabinet members, diplomats, civil society, and members of the public. The UN Resident Coordinator leads a delegation of UN agency heads and over 100 UN personnel, joined by embassies from Sweden, Canada, the Nordic countries, and the EU Delegation to Thailand. The United Nations’ presence demonstrates unified support for equality, rights, and dialogue in the face of rising global challenges to multilateralism and social inclusion.

           “At UNFPA, we believe that sexual and reproductive health and rights, bodily autonomy, and freedom of identity are fundamental to human dignity. We support laws and policies that uphold the rights of all individuals—regardless of who they are or whom they love—and reaffirm that diversity is not a challenge to be managed, but a strength to be celebrated,” Ms. Siriluck affirms.

           UNFPA’s engagement in Bangkok Pride extends to the Pride Talk, co-hosted on 2 June 2025 at Atrium, Siam Center in collaboration with UNDP, UN Women, and Siam Center. The forum, titled “Born Bold: Celebrating Identity,” offers a platform for voices from the LGBTI community to share lived experiences and envision inclusive futures. Panelists discuss issues such as the lack of legal gender recognition (LGR), the need for safe spaces, and the importance of public awareness and acceptance.

           "Thailand's Draft Gender Identity Recognition Bill presents a crucial opportunity to bridge legal gaps for individuals with diverse gender identities. Legal recognition of gender identity isn't a special privilege; it's a fundamental human right and a significant step toward creating a more just and equitable society," Ms. Siriluck notes.

           Ms. Siriluck also asserts that the Pride Talk blends storytelling, pop culture, and social commentary to engage young people—the next generation of change agents—and to promote mental, physical, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. It aims to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive laws, highlight challenges faced by underrepresented groups, and foster dialogue grounded in dignity, safety, and mutual respect.

           “Pride Month is not only a time for celebration but also reflection and continued advocacy. As we raise our voices in Pride, we must also raise awareness about the work that remains. Laws can change, but so must hearts, minds, and systems. We need public engagement, education, and commitment from all sectors to ensure lasting change,” Ms. Siriluck emphasizes.

           UNFPA sees this month’s activities as part of a broader commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 10 on reducing inequalities. The agency also aligns this year’s Pride engagement with its on going of International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which continues to shape global priorities around gender equality and human rights.

           “From Bangkok to the world, let Pride be a reminder that true progress means protecting everyone’s right to live freely, love fully, and be legally recognized for who they are,” Ms. Siriluck concludes. “Let this Pride Month inspire renewed solidarity, inclusive policy change, and continued momentum toward a future where all group, all genders and all ages are treated with dignity and respect.”

อ่านข่าวภาษาไทย : UNFPA ประเทศไทย เฉลิมฉลอง Bangkok Pride 2025