Hua Hin welcomed one of the country’s largest Pride Month celebrations on Sunday (8 June), as the LGBTQ+ Festival Thailand took place in the city.
The event, organised to honour diversity and promote inclusivity, saw a colourful Pride parade set off from Amari Hua Hin Hotel, with participants making their way to Market Village Hua Hin shopping centre.
Former Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Jakrapob Penkair and his spouse Supaiporn Penkair were joined by Nitti Wongwichasawat, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan Office, and Kittipong Siriphetkasem, President of the Hua Hin/Cha-am Tourism Business Association, in releasing balloons to mark the start of the parade.
The lively procession featured members of the LGBTQ+ community, Miss Thailand titleholders, local organisations, and tourists, all contributing to a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere in central Hua Hin.
An official opening ceremony for the festival followed at Market Village Hua Hin, attended by Assistant Minister of Tourism and Sports Jakrapon Tangsutthitham, Jakrapob Penkair, and Prachuap Khiri Khan Deputy Governor Preeda Sukjai.
Organisers said the event was designed to position Hua Hin as a welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ travellers and to promote Thailand’s reputation for diversity and acceptance. They noted that the festival followed Thailand’s recognition as the Best LGBTQ Destination earlier this year, and was intended to help stimulate tourism by attracting visitors from around the world.
The festival also provided a boost to local businesses, helping to spread income across Hua Hin’s hospitality and retail sectors. Organisers said they hoped the event would become an annual fixture on the city’s calendar, to be held every June.
In addition to the parade, the festival programme included the Miss Diamond Thailand 2025 competition, a transgender beauty pageant celebrating creativity and self-expression within the LGBTQ+ community.
A range of other activities were held throughout the day, including wellness sessions and a panel discussion titled “Voices for Equality.” The discussion addressed challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly the need to foster greater acceptance not only within wider society but also among family members and close circles, where a lack of understanding often remains a barrier.