Thailand is throwing its hat in the ring to host World Pride 2028. If successful, the government hopes it will reflect the kingdom’s “progressive stance” towards the LGBTQ community.
Despite this ‘progress’, Thailand does not have any specific laws to protect its LGBT community, and does not yet have either civil partnership legislation or same-sex marriage.
According to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke, PM Srettha Thavisin fully supports the proposal to host the 2028 World Pride, saying the government will allocate funding to hosting the event should Thailand’s bid be successful. Srettha adds that hosting the event would be a significant boost for the economy and the tourism sector.
The PM was speaking during a meeting to discuss marriage equality and a proposal that transgender people be covered under the country’s universal health coverage. A draft marriage equality bill will be put on the Cabinet agenda next Tuesday, with Parliament expected to consider it sometime in early December.
The PM is hopeful that the marriage equality bill, which would provide the same legal rights to same-sex couples as those afforded to people in heterosexual relationships, will pass without any hurdles.
Any country wishing to host World Pride needs to meet certain human rights and equality criteria, including having a law that protects marriage equality and gender recognition.
Next year’s World Pride event will take place in Australia, with the US hosting the year after that, and the Netherlands in 2026.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
