BANGKOK PRIDE PARADE 2004
Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand
November 21, 2004


(Photo: www.bangkokpride.com)

Rapee witnessed the Pride Parade and reports: Having lived in San Francisco area for 4 years and been to one of the world biggest pride parades held annually there, I can’t help but comparing the Bangkok Pride Parade to the one in San Francisco. The one in Bangkok was quite weak in terms of PR and number of participants. They couldn’t have the street shut down so the parade had to share the street with cars and buses which was somewhat dangerous. SF Pride Parade organizers manage to have theirs to be one of the biggest events in town. They shut down Market Street, one of the busiest streets in the heart of the SF financial district, for half a day for the parade. Similarly, there always are sponsor’s banners/logos on the floats and also photo-ops for politicians. Though, Bangkok Pride Parade 04 was a much smaller one comparing to the SF one, the spirits of the parade participants and spectators were certainly not less.


(Photo: Rapee)

  

(Photo: Rapee)


A parade participant is walking carelessly on Silom Road to where the parade starts.


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


Fixing costumes before the parade starts.

  


Posing for some tourists.


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


A drag queen on a Thai-style tricycle.


  


East meets West…


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


Parade starts.

  


Northeastern "Hai Song" band float.


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


Another float… Native Americans.

  


Not too many parade participants…


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


Parade participants with, of course, big sponsor’s banners.


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


Another float with a peace theme, notice those origami birds used to decorate the float.

  


Of course, with a sponsor’s logo.


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


The origami bird float right in front of Thanon Phat Phong.

  


The float with the self-claimed world’s no1 fitness center sign.


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


This is a photo op for Mr. Natee who is planning to run for a senatorial seat, backed by "Gay Political Group Thailand."

  


The banner says, "It’s time, Natee for Bangkok Senator 2006."


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


Parade spectators right in front of Silom Soi 4 (Bangkok’s Castro district).

  


The signs say "Thai gays come together folding origami birds" and "6 million gays equal 6 million origami birds" (I guess this statement is based on an assumption that 10% of people are homosexual.)


(Photo: Rapee)

  


(Photo: Rapee)


The last float with sponsor’s banners.

  


The parade finally turns left on to Rama IV Rd.


Note: The appearance of any person in these photographs is not intended to imply anything regarding their sexual orientation.