But it’s Thailand, an already popular holiday destination known for its dramatic ocean vistas, resident wildlife, and ornate temples, that has entered a bid to host the ultimate LGBTQ+ event: World Pride in 2028.
If it goes ahead, L’Estrange believes other LGBTQ+ events in the country will only get bigger, which is part of the reason The Stranger Bar recently moved across the street to a roomier location. “I think we can do big events like that through drag or other things that will boom,” he said.
It’s this increase in the rights of queer locals and the reflection of that in events and spaces that’s making the country altogether more appealing to foreigners.
Recognizing this, organizations are trying to make it easier for travelers to stay longer, marry, and honeymoon in the Land of Smiles. “We want to be like a one stop service,” says Ploy Rahong, a real estate agent who lives on Koh Samui, an island where crystal waters give way to white sands and high end hotels. “We’ve got hotels and bars dedicated to this community,” she said, sharing that she herself supports the marketing of Kongsiam, a bar in the beach town of Bo Phut. “It’s fun, quirky and everyone can be themselves and have a good time,” she says, explaining why it is popular with the LGBTQ+ community.
Rahong herself is set to marry her girlfriend in a beachside ceremony later this year and is working with other local businesses to prepare for what she believes will be an expansion of the LGBTQ+ wedding scene. “To have the beach as the backdrop for your wedding is something special,” she says.
In tandem, organizations like Borderless.lgbt are expanding Thailand’s health and wellness offerings for queer travelers. With the support of luxury tour group Thailand Privilege, Borderless.lgbt is set to launch a series of “pink plus” packages for tourists who may want to marry in Thailand but also tap into gender-affirming medical services. “We are going to introduce a network of resorts that are not only inclusive, but come with different programs, whether it’s skincare, aesthetics, [or] slimming but that are also wedding or honeymoon friendly,” said Dr Wei Siang Yu, founder of Borderless.lgbt and a TV celebrity known for sexual health and fertility shows in Singapore. It is supported by government-backed organization, Thailand Privilege, which offers long-term visas alongside other perks such as health and financial check-ups as well as store discounts. “We cherish love regardless of gender,” says Manatase Annawat, president of the organization, which means that it’s poised to support overseas LGBTQ+ couples and families in exploring a stay beyond the typical tourist visa allowance of 60 days.
Over the years, Annawat says Thailand Privilege is in fact seeing an increase in inquiries from the community who are starting to see Thailand beyond just a backpacker hotspot for outdoorsy types, and more as a high-end destination with an all-year-round queer calendar. “We have a lot of LGBTQI+ couples as our members, and we see the trend is growing,” he said.
Whilst the country continues its inclusive revolution, L’Estrange hopes the next step after same-sex marriage legalization will be to grant more rights to trans people who still can’t legally change their identity in Thailand. “A lot of our drag queens are trans, and a lot of the people that come to visit are trans. That would be a nice thing to see,” he says.
Conner’s hope is that more LGBT characters will find their way onto Thai TV in a more representative way so that “Thailand can live up to its general perception and outside image of being truly accepting.”
