Phuket will host the first interpride conference in Asia!

Phuket will host the first interpride conference in Asia!

The news from the island of Phuket is consistently positive: the city is celebrated as the host of the interpride General Meeting and World Conference (GM & W) in 2026. This is a premiere, because for the first time a big meeting of the global Pride network will take place in Asia. The announcement, which was published on October 1, 2023, ensures great anticipation for the event, which will take place from October 26 to 31, 2026. Phuket was able to prevail against an Indian competitor and will now be a host of 200 to 400 delegates and numerous online participants from over 400 member organizations of interpride. Phuket.fr reports that The program of political meetings, workshops, networking events and even a gala dinner includes to promote exchange and connection within the global pride movement.

Preparations for this historical step include the close cooperation between Bangkok Pride, the Foundation for Gender Rights (For-Sogi) and the Andaman Power Association (Phuket Pride). Arun Chumaporn Waddao, co-founder of Bangkok Pride, commented on the selection: "This will be a crucial point for unity, commitment and sustainable change in the global pride movement." This conference will not only throw the light on the progress of Thailand on questions of gender justice, but will also position the region as one of the LGBTQ+most-friendly in the world. Bangkok Post adds that The event is expected to bring significant economic advantages for Thailand, with estimated income of up to 1.1 billion baht.

A sign of progress

Phuket has no longer applied for the orientation of the interpride conference. Governor Sophon Suwannarat led a ceremony to sign a memorandum that focused on promoting gender equality. The aim is to increase awareness of gender inclusion and to reduce social discrimination. In a country in which the subject of gender rights is becoming increasingly important, this development can be seen as part of a more comprehensive social change. DW reports that Thailand introduced a new marriage law on January 22, 2025 that grants same -sex couples of civil law equality, which is a long -awaited achievement in the region.

The social changes that took place in Thailand in recent years have been promoted by the legal legitimization of same -sex marriage. The pressure on the LGBTQ+community to enforce its rights has increased enormously in recent decades. The struggle for gender equality is now further strengthened by such international events as the interpride conference in Phuket.

An international stage

The choice of Phuket as a host is also a strong signal for the future development of the LGBTQ+rights in Southeast Asia, where acceptance and support for same-sex marriages significantly varies. While in countries such as Vietnam (65 % support for same -sex marriages) progress, the situation in other countries such as Malaysia or Indonesia looks less rosy, where homosexuality is strongly criminalized. With the upcoming event, Phuket will move into the global focus and could serve as a model for other regions.

In summary, the upcoming interpride conference in Phuket not only shows the regeneration of the LGBTQ+movement in the region, but also the vision of Thailand, to create a safe and inviting environment for all gender identities. This will be an event that is important not only for Phuket, but for all of Asia.