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There has recently been some very negative public comments made about Bangkok Pride 2003. In response, the Bangkok Pride Coalition has released a statement.

A message from the Bangkok Pride Coalition 2003 to the community:

We were determined, from the very beginning, to make Bangkok Pride 2003 a bicultural, bilingual experience throughout. But this type of commitment has a high price. Some foreigners (farangs) could not operate in the much less regimented Thai meeting formats that were adopted; even elected officers resigned early on. Some Thai people did not like the amount of English that was used (it is, after all, Bangkok Pride and not "Euro-SF-Sydney-Pride-in-BKK"). Others did not appreciate the closely controlled and Western ways in which farang tend to conduct meetings; of the 11 Thais involved in the first planning meeting, only 1 remained with us in the end. Gratefully, though, many of those who could not remain with us did join us in the Park and in the Parade. To "live" our theme, freedom-diversity-unity, we welcome the thoughts and opinions of everyone and hold the utmost respect and gratitude, even for those who left us during the year. In the end, we finished with 60% Thai and 40% farang involved in the Planning Committee!

Were there problems in Bangkok Pride 2003 that must be addressed in 2004? Of course there were. Running an all-volunteer, 8 month effort to produce 10 days worth of activities requires an enormous effort on the part of many, many people. Bangkok Pride 2003 and its Board of Directors faced nearly insurmountable odds in making this year's celebration happen at all. From the "New Social Order" campaigns that saw gay businesses (and non-gay businesses, too) raided, keeping many in fear of being too public - "it will attract the attention of the police," we were told countless times, and through to the well-documented effects that APEC brought upon Bangkok just 3 weeks before Pride 2003 began, it was a difficult year.

Communication - or lack thereof - was a serious problem. On numerous occasions the community was asked to please help in this area but no one came forward. Planning was made difficult by internal difficulties largely brought on by inexperienced planners and exacerbated by our cultural differences and the language barriers within the Committee. Effective, dedicated people committed to biculturalism, as well as those who are able to communicate in both Thai and English, are hard to find; thank goodness for the Planning Committee members who we did have and who were, each and every one, deeply committed to this concept.

The objectives of Bangkok Pride are simple and stated in every piece of literature and press announcements released by Bangkok Pride Coalition: to produce events related to Bangkok Pride, to promote a positive image of gays and lesbians in Thailand and to give money to charities. Judged on these actual goals, Bangkok Pride 2003 enjoyed these successes:

• Activities produced included of the 3rd Pride in the Park, 5th Pride Parade and the 2nd After Parade Party, even in the face of government "pressure" on the gay community and its establishments.
• Bangkok Pride members presented 14 events during Pride week itself.
• For the first time ever, four Thai gay and lesbian social and service groups joined the Pride Parade.
• For the first ever, Thai lesbian women marched alongside their gay brethren in the streets of Bangkok.
• Thai gay people were involved at every level of organization and planning (including 60% membership on the Board of Directors).
• An official Bangkok Pride song was secured along with the financial support of one of Thailand's top three Thai recording companies.
• The sponsor relationship with one of the largest international condom companies was cemented including a promised donation of 50,000 baht worth of condoms that will be distributed to the gay community for free.
• A relationship with the largest Thai entertainment company in Thailand was begun with the star of one of this year's major Thai movies attending Pride in the Park.
• The only legally-recognized organization serving Thai gay men partnered with BPC, for the first time, to help organize the activities presented during Pride in the Park and in the Parade.
• Less than 25% of income was paid out in expenses compared to 63% in 2002.
• This year, the give away to charities will be more than last year - and some of this support will, for the first time ever, go to support Thai lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations.

With these successes, it is both unfair and untrue to call Bangkok Pride 2003 a disaster, or to say it was "too Western-style". Furthermore, to say that this year's Pride Parade was a waste of time is an attack on the 100's of people who gave hours and hours of their time in volunteering - for absolutely no personal financial gain (in fact, often at personal financial cost). The Bangkok Pride Coalition hopes those who made such statements will think twice before making needlessly hurtful statements in the future. We hope all - even those who were unhappy with Bangkok Pride 2003 - join with us in the belief that the strength of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Thailand and throughout the world draws its power from "freedom, diversity and unity."

The Annual General Meeting, at which the Bangkok Pride Coalition 2004 officers will be elected, will be held on Tuesday, 13 January 2004. Watch www.bangkokpride.org for details. Everyone is invited to participate although only paid 2003 members are able to vote. We hope you will join us there, too.