THREE Days of gay pride activites will mark this year's Phuket Pride Celebration in Patong from February 23-26. PC Air has created awareness of the ''third sex'' by appointing ladyboy katoey air hostesses for the first time.
Participants and onlookers can expect to see many other signs of the scale of Phuket's diversity during the fun and frolicks of the festival.
Usually a pageant fit shake a million sequins, the Grand Parade will run on Saturday February 26 from 5 pm. Starting from Duangiitt Resort at the southern end of Patong, dancers, bands and fancy floats will travel along beach road as far as the football stadium at Loma Park, then move back to Paradise Street for a Street Dance evening followed by the closing party for the Pride Festival.
Details of other events are yet to be announced but organisers are already sure of quite a few events.
''There will be a pre-opening white party on the evening of Wednesday February 23 in Paradise Street, with shows from all the bars,'' they say. ''And on the 24th you can cheer your favorite team at the beach volleyball tournament during the day, then in the evening with the grand opening of the Pride Celebration in Paradise Street.
''The celebration will include fireworks, shows from all the bars and late night street party. On Friday February 25, you can choose to either cheer your favorite volleyball team at the final beach volleyball competition or join the gay day tour to Yao Yai Island and then in the evening back to the Awards Night Party and join the celebration with all the beach volleyball winners while they receive their prizes.
''And after that, you can enjoy the street party and various fun games from different bars.''
This year's festival has the support of Patong Municipality plus the Andaman Power Organisation, and includes a focus on Aids awareness and health matters.
Participants and onlookers can expect to see many other signs of the scale of Phuket's diversity during the fun and frolicks of the festival.
Usually a pageant fit shake a million sequins, the Grand Parade will run on Saturday February 26 from 5 pm. Starting from Duangiitt Resort at the southern end of Patong, dancers, bands and fancy floats will travel along beach road as far as the football stadium at Loma Park, then move back to Paradise Street for a Street Dance evening followed by the closing party for the Pride Festival.
Details of other events are yet to be announced but organisers are already sure of quite a few events.
''There will be a pre-opening white party on the evening of Wednesday February 23 in Paradise Street, with shows from all the bars,'' they say. ''And on the 24th you can cheer your favorite team at the beach volleyball tournament during the day, then in the evening with the grand opening of the Pride Celebration in Paradise Street.
''The celebration will include fireworks, shows from all the bars and late night street party. On Friday February 25, you can choose to either cheer your favorite volleyball team at the final beach volleyball competition or join the gay day tour to Yao Yai Island and then in the evening back to the Awards Night Party and join the celebration with all the beach volleyball winners while they receive their prizes.
''And after that, you can enjoy the street party and various fun games from different bars.''
This year's festival has the support of Patong Municipality plus the Andaman Power Organisation, and includes a focus on Aids awareness and health matters.
As maddeningly bigoted as I find Thai culture to be at times, it is the inclusive attitude toward transsexuals that is a saving grace.
Posted by Ellen R on January 31, 2011 10:31
Editor Comment:
Other cultures are far less hospitable. A British friend who came off his motorcycle yesterday was immediately treated by three staff from a chemist's shop. He said: ''Back in Britain, they would have just given me directions to the local clinic.''