Bangkok: Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, inaugurated the Amazing Thailand Love Wins Festival to celebrate Pride Month, emphasizing support for the LGBTQIAN+ community before attending a cabinet meeting in place of Prime Minister Ing, who is at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
According to Thai News Agency, preceding the cabinet meeting, Mr. Nithi Seeprae, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, introduced executives to Mr. Phumtham, who presided over the festival's opening ceremony. The event is part of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025 project, aiming to enhance Thailand's image as an inclusive tourist destination and a global Pride hub.
The festival saw participation from celebrities and influencers such as Natthanisa Manee, Yoshi Rinrada, and Cheer Thikamporn, alongside a Drag Queen performance as a key attraction. Love Wins pins were distributed to promote equal love.
Throughout June, regional celebrations include the Bangkok Pride Festival 2025 under the theme "Born This Way: The Fight Continues from Marriage Equality to Identity Recognition," featuring parades and forums. In the Northern region, events like Chiang Mai Pride and Tak Pride will be held, while the Eastern region hosts Pattaya Pride and other events. The Southern region will celebrate with Samui Pride Nation and Phuket Pride, among others, and the Northeastern region will see the Khon Kaen Pride Festival and additional gatherings.
Mr. Phumtham later chaired a cabinet meeting, with eight ministers absent, including Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra. The agenda included proposals from the Ministry of Commerce regarding intellectual property plans and the Ministry of Labor's drafts related to maritime labor laws.
The Ministry of Finance presented anti-corruption recommendations to prevent misuse of construction contracts, ensuring ethical practices in government projects.