Fridae

About a thousand LGBT members and their friends in Vietnam’s commercial capital of Ho Chi Minh City took to the streets to promote diversity and honor individuals and organizations that have made a difference to the LGBT community in the country.

They flocked to the city’s Labor Culture Palace in District 1 on Dec 14 for the event titled “Embrace Diversity Festival 2014.” The gathering was the culmination of a festival to promote the community’s rights in Vietnam and in the fields of family, school, work and law, as well as to honor individuals and organizations that have outstanding contributions to the community, according to Tuoi Tre News.

 We want the LGBT community to understand that they need to live with who they really are, as well as to let people know that LGBT also have their rights,” Huynh Minh Thao, the organizer’s representative told Tuoi Tre News at the event.  “Life is full of diversity, so if you are in the LGBT community, you should be proud of it and convince your friends to understand that,” he added.

One of the highlights of the day was the award ceremony “LGBT Appreciation 2014,” honoring people and organizations that contributed to the local LGBT community.

The four-hour event also featured music and dance performances, plays, photo exhibition as well as information for people who wanted to get to know more about the LGBT community in Vietnam.

A huge 6-color rainbow flag was displayed at the end of the event, covering a part of the Labor Culture Palace’s campus. 

Although both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal and is believed to never have been criminalized in Vietnamese history, society is still heavily prejudiced against the LGBT community.

Misunderstanding and social stigma is still widespread. Insinuation, ridicule, parents’ disapproval, and humiliation are experiences familiar to many LGBTs. In schools, families, offices, factories, their dignity and security are still compromised. Many LGBTs, especially youth, live in fear of being disowned, despised, or treated differently, according to the official Viet Pride website.

Vietnamese lawmakers in a bid to portray the country as being progressive have scrapped fines against same-sex even though it does not officially recognize such marriages.