Chiang Mai Pride

Chiang Mai Pride is an annual celebration of gender diversity and a platform for advancing human rights in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is organized by the Chiang Mai Pride Organizing Committee in collaboration with civil society networks, LGBTQIAN+ communities, volunteers, and partners from various sectors. The event has been held continuously for 17 years, providing a space where people can express their identities with pride and collectively raise their voices for rights, freedom, and equality in society.

The core values of Chiang Mai Pride are respect for human dignity, acceptance of differences, and the principle of “Leaving No One Behind.” Our work goes beyond LGBTQIAN+ rights and also addresses the rights of women, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, migrant workers, sex workers, people who use drugs, and others who experience discrimination. Through pride parades, creative activities, public awareness campaigns, dialogue, and collaboration with diverse networks, we strive to foster understanding and drive meaningful social change.

Chiang Mai Pride is committed to making Chiang Mai a city of equality, where everyone has rights, a voice, and the opportunity to participate in shaping their own future. We work with civil society, government agencies, the private sector, and local networks to build an environment that respects diversity and protects human rights in practice. For us, Pride is not merely a festival of celebration; it is a space for the struggle for rights, the creation of hope, and collective action toward a society where everyone can live with dignity, leaving no one behind.

Most importantly, Chiang Mai Pride did not begin as a celebration. It emerged from experiences of oppression, marginalization, and the denial of human dignity, when people were prevented from holding the Chiang Mai Pride parade in 2009 due to a blockade. This history is central to who we are and what we stand for. That is why we place the voices of the people first and foremost in everything we do.