LGBTQ Activists in Thailand Raised Pride Flag during Anti-Government Rally
Pride Flag Raised at Anti-government Rally
On Saturday July 18th in Thailand, a student-led protest, including youth groups Student Union of Thailand, Free Youth and Youth for Democracy, demanded the resignation of current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Chan-o-cha had retaken his prime ministership in January of 2016, although the vote was seen by many as being “deeply flawed.” Many LGBT activists were present at the protest holding pride flags, and as seen in the picture, a rainbow umbrella. They additionally had flags waved against the backdrop of the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. (Westfall, 2020).
As said by Watcharakorn Chaikaew, founder of Thaprachan Awaken and first vice president of the Student Union of Thailand, “Every revolution and every change requires someone who'll take the risk. We are standing up today to take that risk, so that our friends and fellow people can stand with us together” (Westfall, 2020).
The activists were said to have been singing, dancing, and performing stand-up comedy sketches which ridiculed the Prime Minister. According to a 21-year-old activist who identified themself as Victorious Nighttime: “We're here today mainly to call for democracy. Once we achieve democracy, equal rights will follow,” then continued with “The LGBT group does not yet have equal rights in society, so we're calling for both democracy and equality” (Reuters, 2020).
This was one of many in a series of protests led by the Free Youth group in Bangkok. They have issued the following three demands: the dissolution of parliament, an end to harassment of government critics, and amendments to the military-written constitution.
A politics professor at Thammasat University explained that the government is keeping an eye on this and will hear the movement's needs. He continued with “...because the movement was initiated by the youth, the issues raised must resonate more broadly with the public before the government takes them seriously.”
The group claimed that they will not be going anywhere, that they want respect and to know that the elders who are running the country hear them and take their concerns seriously (Westfall, 2020). You can follow and support the group on instagram @freeyouth_ig, twitter @FreeYOUTHth, or on facebook https://m.facebook.com/FreeYOUTHth/.
Yours Truly,
Myesha Sapp
Resources:
Reuters. (2020, July 27). Thai LGBTQ activists raise pride flag in anti-government rally. Retrieved July 31, 2020, from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/thai-lgbtq-activists-raise-pride-flag-anti-government-rally-n1234968
Westfall, S. (2020, July 20). Thailand Sees Largest Anti-Government Protests Since 2014 Military Coup. Retrieved July 31, 2020, from https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/v7gyby/thailand-largest-anti-government-protests-since-coup