The story of Chiang Mai Pride isn’t just about rainbow flags and fabulous outfits. It’s about protest, perseverance and the beginnings of Thailand’s modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
What started as a Mardi Gras parade in February 2009 soon hit the headlines as Thailand’s biggest social flashpoints for LGBTQ+ rights. Local backlash over what was perceived as the ‘sexualisation’ of the streets clashed with a community eager to celebrate its freedom and visibility. Tensions escalated into threats and then politically-driven mobs armed with stones and other weapons descended on the parade organisers and participants who ultimately sought refuge in the Phutthasathan Chiang Mai Monastery.
Shocking some, impressing others, the now-infamous standoff mob leaders demanded the LGBTQ+ participants prostrate in apology and vow not to hold a Pride parade for the next 1,500 years, or they would maintain the siege and threaten more violence.
Needless to say, the LGBTQ+ activists didn’t give in, eventually escaping the mobs by jumping the temple walls and seeking refuge in the homes of local allies. Sirisak ‘Ton’ Chaited – the organiser of Chiang Mai Pride from then until now – was the last person standing, letting a single balloon fly as a signal of resistance before the standoff finally ended.
That moment sparked the formation of Sao Saw Et (Thai: เสาร์ซาวเอ็ด which means ‘Saturday 21’ in northern dialect), an organisation founded by the core leaders of Chiang Mai’s first Pride event aimed to educate people on peaceful living with LGBTQ+ people. Named after the date of the incident – Saturday, February 21 – it later helped establish what is now recognised nationwide as Thailand’s official Anti-Violence Against LGBTQ+ Day on the same date.
Chiang Mai Pride today
Fast forward 15 years and Chiang Mai isn’t just surviving Pride – it’s leading it.
‘It took us ten years to find the courage to hold another parade,’ explained Ton as they set up a stage for elderly pride ambassadors. ‘But once we did, society had shifted. People were warm and welcoming. It was actually Chiang Mai that restarted pride across the whole of Thailand.’
Since its revival in 2019, Chiang Mai has hosted more consecutive years of Pride events than any other Thai city – even through COVID where parades were dispersed and events moved online. And this year is no different: Chiang Mai is officially opening Thailand’s Pride Month with its biggest, boldest programme yet, under the theme ‘Beyond Celebration’.
‘Now we have had some big wins for LGBTQ+ rights in recent years, I want this year to be about everyone,’ adds Ton. ‘Equality is about everyone, we’re just a vessel for being heard. This year we’re raising our voices not only for LGBTQ+ rights, but for labour rights, healthcare and human rights for everyone, from stateless sex workers to elderly ambassadors.’
Chiang Mai Pride will host talks, protests, dances, flash mobs, markets, demands, parades and more – open to all, no matter your background, creed or sexual orientation.
‘What makes Chiang Mai Pride different is we’re not afraid of being challenged,’ Ton says. ‘Last year’s parade included five protesters joining the stage, raising issues with rainbow-washing and even criticising the Pride movement itself. We hosted open dialogue and gave them as much a voice as our own – that’s what real equality looks like.’
With a history of abuse and countless cultural hurdles and uphill battles for recognition, Chiang Mai’s LGBTQ+ community remains fearless – and fiercely inclusive. Led by Ton and an ever-growing network of changemakers, this year’s Pride is shaping up to be the city’s most ambitious yet.
So whether you're ready to shout, dance, sing or protest, here’s everything happening this year, making it the biggest and most ambitious Pride event Chiang Mai has ever seen.
Chiang Mai Pride 2025 events
Friday, May 23
Chiang Mai Pride 2025 Art and Photo Competition
Under the theme of ‘Beyond Celebration – Diversity, Equality and Inclusion’, pride organisers this year invite all budding photographers and artists to celebrate pride through the power of visual media. With only 10 participants making it to the final, the competition is steep – with prizes totaling over B6,000. Winning artwork and photographs will be exhibited throughout Pride month from May 27 at the Pantip Lifestyle Hub. The submission deadline is May 22 at 11pm, art will be displayed for the weekend before winners are announced at the parade on Sunday.
May 23. Free. Pantip Lifestyle Hub. 11.30am-6pm
Elderly Pride Ambassadors 2025
As beauty, voice and pride has no age limit, this year there will also be an Elderly Pride Ambassador competition to help find the best pride representative for the elderly LGBTQ+ community. All elders of all styles can come and compete as the 2025 ambassador, with the winners taking home the ‘Crown of Dignity’, a sash and prize money for the occasion. There will also be several runner-up prizes. Entrants must be 60 years or older and have a fun personality, be confident and want to be a voice for an equal society in Chiang Mai. Judges will look at introductions, attitude towards society through Q&A sessions and other performance based criteria. Registration opens 11.30am-12.30pm with the competition beginning at 1pm.
May 23. Free. Pantip Lifestyle Hub. 11.30am-4pm (press conference 4pm-6pm)
Seminars and workshops
Alongside the elderly pride ambassadors and photo competition, Pantip Lifestyle Hub will also cater to a number of seminars and workshops covering various pride-related topics throughout the day, along with dance shows and a press conference. At 1.30pm, the biggest seminar of the day takes place during the Elderly Pride Ambassadors event, on the topic of ‘gender diversity Chiang Mai’ hosted by Sirisak ‘Ton’ Chaited alongside MPLUS, CAREMAT and Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai. This is followed by another panel talk at 3pm on ‘Crisis or opportunity? The state of gender diversity in Chiang Mai’.
May 23 and May 30. Free. Pantip Lifestyle Hub. 11.30am-4pm (press conference 4pm-6pm)
Sunday, May 25
Chiang Mai Pride Parade
This is the big one and the official starting parade of Thailand’s Pride movement this year. The parade will begin at the Phutthasathan Chiang Mai Monastery with a flash mob in memory of the February 21 incident before the pride sets off towards Thapae Gate at around 6pm. If you can’t make it to the parade, the gate will host booths and stage events from 1pm onwards, welcoming the main parade’s arrival around 8pm. The event will continue into the night with opening shows and ceremonies, the people’s voice stage where supporters or those critical are free to share their voice with the crowd, winner announcements of the photo and art competitions, an equal marriage ceremony, awards for elderly pride ambassadors and the announcement of the official Chiang Mai Pride Ambassador who will hold the responsibility of passing the rainbow flag to the next Pride march in Bangkok in early June.
May 25. Free. Thapae Gate. 1pm-midnight (parade starts at 6pm)
Pride After Party
Join organisers, other community members and those looking to party at Sapphic Riot for the official Chiang Mai after party event. This party, hosted by the only official lesbian and queer space in the city, is open to all but will focus on themes including girl power, trans power and freedom of expression.
May 25. Free. Sapphic Riot. Party will start after the event, around midnight, but the bar will open earlier.
Tuesday, May 27
Chiang Mai Pride Exhibition
The official exhibition of the art and photography competition that was held the weekend before, running for the whole month of June. The opening of the exhibition includes award ceremonies for winners, talks on gender issues, and a Pride in Motion fashion show. There will also be an open mic panel discussion on gender rights, labour rights and equality where all can join and share their thoughts.
May 27-June 30. Free. Pantip Lifestyle Hub. Opening event 12.30pm-3pm
Friday, May 30
Pride Market
This weekend-long evening market features everything from Pride-themed accessories to food, drinks and other products prepared and sold by members of Chiang Mai’s LGBTQ+ community. Sit, chill and make friends with other community members or join at certain times over the weekend for special events and competitions including cover dance and random style dance performances and 6ixcret Cabaret shows every day. The cover dance stage also operates a free-stage policy, allowing anyone or any troop to take to the stage and perform their own dance, however registration is advised to secure a spot in the lineup.
May 30-June 1. Free, register to dance here. Khao-Soi-Night, opposite the Dusit B2 hotel. 5pm-late