Fridae

Shinen Wong ponders the meaning of gay Pride parades as Sydney, where he currently lives, is in the midst of the its 31st annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras festival season.

Although the Dykes on Bikes had to leave their machines at home and the event had to do without a double-decker bus organisers intended to rent, some 1,200 people turned out for Hong Kong's first official gay-pride parade on Saturday.

For the first time in its 14-year history, the generally festive atmosphere that emanates from the annual Manila Pride March was tarnished with placards and calls for "repentance" from church-based anti-gay protesters.

Thailand's first "Human Rights Day for Sexual Diversity" was launched on Nov 29 to mark the anniversary of the drafting of the Yogyakarta Principles in Nov 2006.

Thailand will celebrate its first National Human Rights Day for Sexual Diversity on Nov 29, Manila its 10th gay pride anniversary on Dec 6 and Hong Kong its first gay pride march Dec 13.

It was all cheers, noise and flamboyance when Asia's largest pride parade took to the streets in Taipei last Saturday. Fridae's Taipei correspondent Jason Tan witnesses yet another significant milestone in the community's history. Photos and additional text by Choo Lip Sin.

Into its sixth year of running, Taipei LGBT Pride Parade is making its impact felt in Asia with the largest turnout of 15,000 last year. Fridae's Taipei correspondent Jason Tan talks to the organisers of this year's parade and finds out if there would be any surprises awaiting the community.

Unlike last year, Singapore's LGBT pride season Indignation which ended last week was not hit by any bans. Fridae columnist and event co-organiser Alex Au recaps the events organised by various community groups and individuals over a 3-week period.

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcs�ny has called for a rally against extremists following a violent clash between protesters, marchers and the police at the Budapest pride parade - the worst in its 12-year history.

Fridae's Delhi correspondent Mayur Suresh reports on the three pride marches in the capital, Bangalore and Kolkatta on Jun 29 - the first time it has been coordinated on a national scale.