Viet Pride 2014 – Together

01, 02 and 03 Aug 2014
Hanoi

UPDATE: Viet Pride 2014 Line Up of Events in Hanoi

From Viet Pride:

In August 2012, Vietnam saw its first LGBTQ Pride celebration in Hanoi. A convoy of more than 200 people on bicycles and motorbikes, carrying rainbow flags and messages of equality, created a landmark for the LGBTQ movement in the South East Asian country, where prejudice against sexual minorities is still pervasive. The second Viet Pride the following year was a significant step in strengthening the movement and expanding the scope to include the Viet Pride scholarship and an employment equality campaign.

This year, 2014, Viet Pride will be celebrated for the third time in Hanoi on the first weekend of August – the 01st, 2nd, and 3rd. Continuing the momentum, the third Viet Pride aims to raise awareness of sexual diversity and the right to love that every person regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity is entitled to. Besides that, Viet Pride 2014 also puts a strong emphasis on forging the connection and solidarity amongst diverse LGBTQ groups from all over the country through a series of discussions and networking activities. These two directions of focus are much needed in the time and place where equality and dignity for people of sexual minorities are circumscribed by the language of culture, and the consensus, solidarity within the LGBTQ community is vital to lead the movement forward.

The preparation for Viet Pride 2014 is being carried out with great excitement across the country, involving civil society organisations both in the North and the South of Vietnam, as well as foreign embassies, social enterprises, and the strategic partner of Viet Pride – the Goethe Institute. The organising committee also hopes to bring over LGBTQ organizations from overseas for exchange of good practices and transnational camaraderie. A great source of support comes from Civil Rights Defenders to put together the event and invite LGBTQ community leaders to Hanoi for the three days of Viet Pride and a number of community consultation/needs assessment sessions.

Speaking of the development and remarkable progress of Viet Pride, Nguyen Thanh Tam, director of the project since 2012, said, “Viet Pride is making small, yet firm and consistent, steps in fostering social acceptance and respect that has been sorely lacking in the Vietnamese society. I am glad that in only three years, Viet Pride has grown to become an annual tradition and symbol of respect for diversity, with Vietnamese LGBTQ youth and allies quickly becoming the leading force. I also appreciate the fact that Viet Pride has proven to be not an isolated event or confined within Vietnam but part of the global LGBTQ movement that is changing the world in a way unimaginable just a few decades ago!”

Read more:

Viet Pride 2013 – Strive with Pride
HCMC – VietPride 2013
Trailer for the Documentary about Vietpride 2013