What began in 2009 as a modest festival with a handful of organisers has grown into a month-long extravaganza with thousands of attendees and more than 40 events.
Shanghai Pride's core mission, however, has remained the same: to celebrate diversity. Now the non-profit festival hopes to "raise awareness and visibility, and promote self-acceptance and acceptance for the LGBTQ community through sports, cultural, educational and social activities."
The 2018 theme is "our community, our identity, our pride." The calendar is packed with events, including theatre performances, bike rides, runs, panel discussions and parties.
Of note is the Shanghai Pride Film Festival, which showcased more than 50 movies from 20-plus countries. A big draw remains the films put forward by emerging Chinese filmmakers on issues affecting the LGBTQ community in the country. It continues into the third and fourth weeks of June.
In an interview with TIME, festival cofounder Charlene Liu reflected on the last ten years.
"None of us imagined we'd organize ten of these," she said. "I came out through Shanghai Pride, I met my wife through Shanghai Pride, so today is very emotional for us."
What began in 2009 as a modest festival with a handful of organisers has grown into a month-long extravaganza with thousands of attendees and more than 40 events.
Shanghai Pride's core mission, however, has remained the same: to celebrate diversity. Now the non-profit festival hopes to "raise awareness and visibility, and promote self-acceptance and acceptance for the LGBTQ community through sports, cultural, educational and social activities."
The 2018 theme is "our community, our identity, our pride." The calendar is packed with events, including theatre performances, bike rides, runs, panel discussions and parties.
Of note is the Shanghai Pride Film Festival, which showcased more than 50 movies from 20-plus countries. A big draw remains the films put forward by emerging Chinese filmmakers on issues affecting the LGBTQ community in the country. It continues into the third and fourth weeks of June.
In an interview with TIME, festival cofounder Charlene Liu reflected on the last ten years.
"None of us imagined we'd organize ten of these," she said. "I came out through Shanghai Pride, I met my wife through Shanghai Pride, so today is very emotional for us."
