Shanghai Pride 6 - The Best yet!

A combination of parties and cultural events attracted more than 5000 supporters, celebrating diversity and tolerance and sending out the powerful message of being “Better Together”.

A pre-Pride event at 390 Shanghai club was a night of sharing the real life stories. June 12th and 13th marked the openings of the Pride Photo and Art Exhibition "Love & Health".

Saturday June 14th saw a 6 km long Pride Run, which started from The Langham, Xintiandi to The Bund and back followed by a Pink BBQ at The Langham, supported by American Apparel and Helan . The day culminated with the official Opening Party featuring a performance by Peter Le at M2. Despite difficulties with the venue, it was great night that attracted 2000 supporters.

Sunday June 15th saw a panel discussion on transgender health, rights and community building hosted by the US Consulate-General. The LGBT Groups Open Day on June 21st, co-organised by Shanghai Community Center, was dedicated to networking and facilitating future local LGBT-related projects. It was complemented with HIV/AIDS Panel Discussion "Love & Beyond" and PFLAG Conference "Embrace Your Children" in Andaz Hotel, supported by Helan Online. More than 600 people took part in the events supported by the British Consulate-General.

The Pride6 Film Festival opened on June 15th at The British Centre, followed by screenings held at the German, British, Canadian, Luxembourg and Danish Consulate-Generals throughout the week that highlighted universal struggle for life and love beyond rigid confines of heterosexuality.

The Identity Theater Series gathered an amazing crowd, both on stage and in the audience. Pride6 presented two original plays - "Izzie and Irving" written by Sanyi and "Rendezvous", a tragicomedy written by Jason and Svetlana Lasky. Dedicated to transgender community, the play (supported by the  Dutch Consulate-General) was followed by interactive sessions between the director, actors, audience and the Pride's exquisite guests - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Sister Roma of the Sisters hosted LGBT Trivia Night on June 18th at 390 Shanghai.

The Closing Party, although forced to changed venue at the last minute, was a huge success.  Organisers worked tirelessly to divert the crowd to the new venue. An estimated 800 participants had an amazing time entertained by Pride Beats, DJ Kuma Ray, versatile Jazz singer Denise, dancers Vboiz, Benson and KK from Taiwan, Drag Queen Foxxy Femm and NoFactCreative Group.

Sales from the Art Exhibition were donated to Beijing Zuoyou, an organisation focusing on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention and care for the infected. Proceeds from Pride Run went to Chengdu Tongle, an LGBT organisation in Sichuan province. Sales of raffle tickets help to support LesTalk, a local Lesbian media and events organisation.

photo credit - Shanghai Pride website