Tenth Annual ShanghaiPRIDE Celebrates Community and Identity
Shanghai’s LGBTQ community is gearing up for the city’s tenth annual Pride Festival, fondly dubbed Pride10, which will run from June 8-18. Under the theme “Our Community | Our Identity | Our Pride” this year’s festival will highlight the expansion in the city’s queer scene over the past decade, along with a growing sense of diversity and understanding.
ShaShanghaiPRIDE is one of China’s largest and longest-running LGBTQ pride event. Most organizers for the inaugural event in 2009 were foreigners, but today, the festival team is proudly led by Chinese locals. As queer identities continue to evolve, the festival will also celebrate greater awareness and acceptance for human beings across the spectrum of gender and sexual identification. This year’s festival will bring together participants, partners and volunteers from past and present to celebrate an unexpected milestone.
“This year’s festival is truly an achievement for the LGBTQ community, its allies, and for me personally. We have come a long way, but there is still quite a journey ahead. For now, we are proud to be here,” said festival co-founder, Charlene Liu.
LGBTQ issues have gained visibility across China in recent years, with advocates and allies stepping up to support the community, promote equality, and voice out against discrimination.
For the first time ever, ShanghaiPRIDE has also joined with other LGBTQ organizations to debut CnPRIDE events in Chinese cities throughout June 2018, including sporting, cultural, social and educational programming.
With the support of consulates, corporations, and media, a dedicated volunteer community, and a fast-expanding population of LGBTQ friends and allies, Pride10 promises to be the most exciting festival yet!
Bike Across Shanghai
Celebrations started early, with the Rainbow Bike Ride on Saturday, May 19—the same week as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which falls on May 17. Six teams of brightly-clad bikers journeyed across the city from six different starting point. They met in the middle at RIINK to form a rainbow pride flag, while raising funds for ShanghaiPRIDE.
Transcending Gender & Sexuality
TransPride launches in Shanghai at 8Art Hotel for the first time, on Saturday, June 2 with talks, films, and a talent show to celebrate the trans community. TransPride Shanghai aims to raise awareness of gender and sexual diversity, while offering a safe space for trans people and allies to share resources and information. This year’s ShanghaiPRIDE raffle ticket sales will specifically go to support the trans community.
Gallery of History
This year, Pride10 Anniversary Gallery will highlight events and milestones of past pride festivals in an exhibition at Polar Bear Gallery at the M50 Creative Park. The opening night will be held on Friday, June 8. Exhibition will run for 3 weeks.
Outdoor Fun
ShanghaiPRIDE week celebrations officially commence with the Pride Run on Saturday, June 9. Runners set off from six iconic Shanghai locations, with connections to the city’s history, culture and queer community, to converge at Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai for a Pink Brunch. Proceeds of the run will benefit Chinese athletes competing at the 2018 Gay Games in Paris. On the second weekend of pride week, Cotton’s (Xinhua Road) will host a Rainbow BBQ in the afternoon.
LGBTQ Films
LGBTQ-themed films will be screened at various consulate venues throughout the week of June 10-17, as part of the ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival. A local and international jury will award prizes for this year’s top queer Chinese short films, including a chance to win funding for their next project through our partner, Iris Prize.
Theatre and Live Performances
A multitude of live performances this year includes ShanghaiPRIDE Theatre Festival theatre acts, script readings, improv in English and Chinese, and an evening with the National LGBT Choir Concert. Be sure to check the listings for these events, which run in various venues throughout May and June.
LGBTQ Families
The Rainbow Family Forum focuses on same-sex couples raising children and forming a family. It takes place on Saturday, June 9 at Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai.
PFLAG China commemorates ten years of operations with the PFLAG Conference. The all-day event, also at Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai, features PFLAG members from across China and community representatives looking ahead to the future.
Forums & Panels
Women Up! – Anti-Sexual Harassment, also held at Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai on the afternoon of Saturday, June 9 spotlights two critical issues: sexual harassment and domestic violence. The following day at Happiness42, a special edition of Queer Talks looks at LGBTQ individuals with disabilities, and how we can be better allies for marginalized identities within the LGBTQ family. An invitation-only Out & Equal Roundtable hosts corporate leaders and professionals discussing LGBTQ and ally-ship in corporate policies at GE Headquarters on Thursday, June 14. On Sunday, June 17, a Well-Being Panel to be held at Cotton’s (Xinhua Rd) will be discussing both physical and psychological well-being in the LGBTQ community.
You Voted for the Pride Talk Speakers
The following week, on Saturday, June 16, ten speakers chosen by the public in an open vote will share their experiences growing up, coming out, and navigating the LGBTQ community at the annual Pride Talk event to be held at the Bund’s M Glam. Topics range from being lesbian, bi, and trans, to creating awareness for LGBTQ in second and third-tier Chinese cities. Be sure to come hear their inspiring, tear-jerking, and hilarious personal stories!
Drinks + Pop Culture = Trivia Night at Lucca!
Trivia Night returns this year to test your knowledge of pop culture, queer history, and arcane facts. Expect multiple prizes! Enjoy beverages, snacks, and raucous conversation as teams of up to five people compete to be crowned Trivia Night champions on Wednesday, June 13 at Lucca Café & Lounge.
Three Parties, Three Times the Fun!
Party-goers will be celebrating Pride10 at the opening party at The Pearl on Saturday, June 9. The ShanghaiPRIDE BLING Party gives guests a chance to wear glitter and jewelry and play with bubbles.
On Thursday, June 14, queer women are feted at the annual ShanghaiPRIDE Ladies Party, this year at HILO. Ladies only please (guys in drag also welcome)!
Finally, in honor of the Dragon Boat Festival, the ShanghaiPRIDE Red Dragon Party at RIINK on Saturday, June 16 closes out this year’s festival with a dragon-themed roar!
ShanghaiPRIDE is a non-profit festival run entirely by volunteers and supported by partners and sponsors – Consulates: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, UK, and US; Title Sponsor: Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai; Gold Sponsor: 8Art Hotel, Cotton’s, The Dow Company, H-Shield, Lucca Café & Lounge, Nike+ Run Club, The Pearl Shanghai, TimeOut Shanghai, TrueBaby, Wella EIMI, and Wunderman. Stay tuned for info on pre-Pride fundraising and merchandise sales. All proceeds cover festival operating costs.
For more information on Pride10, visit shpride.com or follow ShanghaiPRIDE on WeChat (Shanghai-PRIDE), Weibo (shanghaipride), LinkedIn (ShanghaiPRIDE), Facebook (ShanghaiPride), and Instagram (shanghaipride).
Contact Information
Email: shanghaipride@gmail.com
Website: shpride.com
