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The organizers of the Phuket Gay Festival, led by the Festival Chairman Khun Tangmo, have moved to postpone the 6th Annual Phuket Gay Festival from February 9-13 to April 7-10, at the general meeting called in Patong, Thursday January 6.

The gay business venues were generally spared damage and losses, most located a distance from the beach front. Two businesses were hit hard, with one death directly caused by the tsunami. The general feelings of the Gay Festival Organizers, supported by the many participating business owners, was that respect for the consequences of the tsunami was far and away the most important issue, and allowing the Patong area residents to have some time to recover both emotionally and physically from the disaster.

One issue was heavily discussed, and that is the resilience of Patong and the speed of the recovery and repair for so many of the businesses. Khun Daeng from Patong Entertainment Association, five time festival past chairman pointed out that the best thing that people who care about Phuket and Patong could do, is come here. K. Daeng stated that the Phuket beaches are rapidly recovering and there are many hotels and guest houses, a huge number, that are available and ready to receive guests.

The Festival will announce the events preceding and during the festival on their website in the next week. The Volleyball tournament, a huge favorite will go on as scheduled on 8-9 April, as will the Grand Parade on April 10. The festival organizers acknowledged that there will be a different feeling for the 2005 event, and want to make it a festival of renewal and remembrance for Phuket, with all areas of the Phuket communities invited and welcome to participate. The festival has always had a large crossover audience, not just gays, and this year want to make it even more welcoming and positive in this respect.

More information about the Phuket Gay festival can be learned at www.phuketgaypridefestival.com.