More than a decade in the past, I set foot in Bangkok for the very first time. It was my first solo backpacking journey, however because it turned out, the Thai capital can be bombarding me with a sequence of firsts. A good friend, who had been dwelling in Bangkok on the time confirmed me round and determined it was time for me to have a correct immersion. He led me into my first homosexual membership and dragged me to my first drag present. For the primary time since I might keep in mind, I felt fully and unapologetically myself in a overseas land. Bangkok wrapped me in a form of heat that I didn’t know I used to be lacking — a mixture of loud celebration and quiet acceptance.
That’s why it’ll all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart. It’s not simply due to the events, the meals, or the tradition (although, sure to all of that). To me, Bangkok isn’t simply one other cease on my journey map. It is my protected house.
If you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and planning a visit to Thailand, listed here are my prime suggestions that will help you expertise Bangkok the best way it was meant to be: protected, fabulous, and stuffed with delight.
1. Visit throughout #BangkokPride for peak LGBT power.
June is Pride Month. Last yr, I attended Bangkok Pride for the primary time. But it wasn’t simply my first Pride in Thailand — it was my first Pride, ever. Before that journey, I had by no means marched, by no means waved a rainbow flag in public, by no means stood shoulder to shoulder with 1000’s of individuals shouting for love and equality. But one thing about Bangkok made me really feel like I used to be precisely the place I wanted to be. I didn’t simply really feel tolerated or accepted. I felt celebrated.
During Pride Month, Bangkok transforms. The streets come alive with rainbow flags, music, and folks from all walks of life exhibiting up in full coloration. The environment is joyful, inclusive, and deeply emotional. Thailand is already some of the LGBTQ+-friendly nations in Asia, however Pride turns that friendliness into full-on solidarity. Locals, expats, and vacationers all come collectively in a single massive, lovely parade. Even company allies step up with Pride-themed occasions and assist.
Bangkok’s celebrations maintain getting larger each time. This yr, Bangkok Pride Parade 2025 guarantees to be one of many largest and most inclusive Pride parades in Southeast Asia, as the town celebrates variety, freedom, and gender equality. Here are the main points together with the route.
- Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
- Time: 3:00 PM onwards
- Route: From National Stadium BTS to Ratchaprasong
- Organizers: Bangkok Pride in collaboration with human rights teams, LGBTQIA+ communities, native companies, and allies
- Highlights: Parade floats, drag reveals, mini-concerts and dwell performances from native and worldwide artists. There will even be consciousness zones, training cubicles, and protected areas for discussions. And in fact, anticipate fab vogue and inventive expression throughout!
And that’s not all – Pride celebrations are occurring all month lengthy throughout Thailand, with occasions like Pattaya Pride, Samui Pride Nation, and Chiang Mai Pride lighting up the nation with love, variety, and pleasure.
2. Stay in or close to the Silom space.
Although the Silom district is a enterprise heart by day, it transforms into a celebration central when the solar goes down, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood. Located proper within the heart of the town and served by each BTS and MRT, Silom is the place skyscrapers meet sass, and the company crowd offers technique to drag queens, go-go dancers, and queer vacationers simply in search of a great time.
Silom is residence to Bangkok’s most iconic homosexual bars and golf equipment. Just off Silom Soi 2 and Soi 4, you’ll discover among the metropolis’s most legendary queer venues. Soi 2 is the wild one, lined with high-energy nightclubs like DJ Station and G.O.D., the place the beats are loud, the boys are sweaty, and the drag reveals hit like a shot of tequila to the soul.
Soi 4 is the place you pregame. It’s lined with homosexual bars like The Balcony Pub and The Stranger Bar aka House of Drag Queens.
Bangkok typically is pleasant towards LGBTQ+ vacationers, however Silom appears like a queer sanctuary. People are used to seeing all types of expressions right here. No one bats a watch at same-sex {couples}, flamboyant outfits, or spontaneous dance-offs on the street. Whether you’re solo, partnered, or with an entire group of associates, this space has your again. It’s additionally received nice meals, native markets, and plush inexperienced areas like Lumphini Park only a quick stroll away. There are additionally a number of LGBTQ+-friendly spas and saunas close by in the event you’re trying to unwind (or discover, no judgment).
3. Catch a drag present.
Way earlier than RuPaul’s Drag Race made drag mainstream, this artwork kind and inventive expression has all the time been fierce, sickening, and iconic in Bangkok. You’ll discover every thing from basic pageant queens to boundary-breaking performers.
Earlier, I discussed Stranger Bar in Silom, so let’s discuss it extra. It’s a reasonably cozy bar and so unassuming, you’d miss it in the event you’re not paying consideration. But when you go inside, you’ll be greeted by stellar performances that may be – relying in your timing – campy, comedic, charismatic or captivatingly chaotic. It has reveals each night time in common intervals, so in the event you arrive and there appears to be nothing occurring on stage, simply wait a number of extra minutes.
But in fact, we will’t discuss Bangkok’s drag scene with out mentioning the outstanding Pangina Heals, host of Drag Race Thailand, who additionally took the world by storm when she was controversially eradicated on Rupaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World. And right here in Bangkok, Pangina and her drag household’s customary of over-the-top excellence is in full show at House of Heals.
4. Support queer-owned or allied companies.
From cute cafés to queer-run hostels, Bangkok’s LGBT+ entrepreneurs are creating lovely, inclusive areas. Seek them out. You’ll really feel good supporting the neighborhood — and possibly get higher espresso, cocktails, or conversations than on the massive chains.
The metropolis can be stuffed with allies, which is most evident throughout Bangkok Pride Month when the most important malls and different institutions splash their exteriors and interiors with varied rainbow-themed decors and supply fabulous reductions or free actions.
Bangkok is a client’s paradise to start with, however with all these offers, chances are high you gained’t be leaving with out some critical retail remedy. So be sure to pack mild and go away an enormous house in your baggage for worth-it finds!
5. Be proud, however learn the room.
In basic, Thailand is famously on the appropriate facet of historical past in the case of LGBTQIA+ points. Bangkok’s queer scene is heat, vibrant, and customarily very open.
But right here’s the tea: you continue to have to remain conscious and respectful of your environment. Know that public shows of affection (PDA) aren’t tremendous frequent. Holding fingers? Totally high quality. Tongue-wrestling within the BTS Skytrain? Maybe save that for the membership after darkish or get a room. If you’re on the BTS or strolling by a temple even when in your technique to Pride, possibly don’t blast RuPaul at full quantity. It’s not about dimming your shine. It’s about realizing when and the place to show it up.
While Thailand is accepting, it stays a non secular nation. Respect has all the time been amongst its cultural cornerstones. Blend delight with cultural sensitivity. You might be assured and nonetheless be thoughtful. You can slay and keep respectful.
Bangkok is a kind of locations the place being LGBTQ+ doesn’t make you stand out, it simply makes you a part of the enjoyable. Whether you’re right here to get together, discover temples, bask in Thai meals, or all of the above, you’ll discover a protected house, a yearning for equality, and an entire lot of affection. So pack your finest crop prime, keep hydrated, and don’t overlook: in Bangkok, the one factor hotter than the climate is variety. And you. I’m positive you’ll be fierce, too!