Hanoi Pride 2019 will take place throughout next week, with numerous events planned as the celebration enters its eighth year.
The event will commence with a series of exhibitions on Monday, September 16. After that, a variety of educational events will take place, including workshops, talk-shows and discussions. Other activities, such as film screenings and parties, will also be on-going.
The week culminates on September 22 with the annual bike ride, followed by a walking parade. The former takes place from 1pm to 3:30pm, with the starting point on Tran Nhan Tong Street beside Thong Nhat Park; the latter begins at the American Club at 4pm and runs until 5pm. There will also be a celebratory pride festival at the American Club to end the week, which will run from 2pm to 9pm and include live performances.
Vietnam’s first gay pride parade took place in Hanoi on August 5, 2012. In 2013, the government abolished fines for same-sex marriages. In the same year, the parliament repealed the heteronormative definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Despite progressive change both in society and the legal system, LGBTQ+ communities still suffer from widespread discrimination. According to VOV, in 2018, 67.5% of surveyed transgender people suffered from psychological issues, and around 60% had attempted suicide. What's more, 23% of were "forced to have sex with others," while 16% had suffered from sexual violence and 83% had experienced humiliation.
To see the full schedule and other details about the event, check out the official Facebook page.
