Xinyu Wen embarked on a journey to Thailand in June, initially planning for a two-week vacation centered around Bangkok’s Pride parade. However, the 28-year-old extended her stay to a month and a half as her experience at the parade led to engaging discussions and discoveries within Bangkok’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.
For LGBTQ+ individuals from China, who often face scorn and social ostracism in their home country, Thailand has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination. It offers the freedom to express their true selves openly. Reflecting on her parade experience, Wen remarked, “I felt like I was in a big party or a huge amusement park. We could forget all upsetting things and feel fun-filled.”
Notably, Bangkok is just a 5-hour flight from Beijing, making it easily accessible for Chinese travelers. Thailand’s tourism authorities actively promote the country as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations in the region.
Wen’s interest in Thailand was piqued when a friend sent her a photo of rainbow-colored, Pride-themed ice cream being sold on the streets. “I wanted to go to Thailand to take a look,” she explained.
Identifying herself as queer, Wen embraces the fluidity of her sexuality, where her partners can be of any gender, and she can express herself without conformity to traditional gender norms. In her home country, she often encounters judgmental stares and questions about her appearance, including having short hair.
LGBTQ+
However, at the Bangkok Pride parade in June, Wen observed a liberating atmosphere where people confidently expressed themselves. She was thrilled to publicly embrace her identity and let go of her inhibitions. Beyond that, she was deeply moved by the protest aspect of the event, where participants carried signs in traditional Chinese with slogans like “China has no LGBTQ” and “Freedom is what we deserve.” She described feeling a mix of emotions—touched yet saddened by the reality back home.
Prior to her trip, Wen conducted research on the LGBTQ+ situation in Thailand and discovered reports of ongoing discrimination, particularly in workplaces. Thailand does not legally recognize same-sex unions or marriages, leading to restrictions on adoption and other legal rights that heterosexual couples enjoy.
Despite initial skepticism, Wen found the Pride parade in Bangkok to be a source of empowerment and a platform for expressing her true self.