Taiwan Chosen to Host WorldPride 2025

Author: Alex Cooper

WorldPride 2025 will take place in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, which will be the first time a WorldPride will be held in an East Asian country. Kaohsiung Pride beat out Washington, D.C.’s Capital Pride Alliance to host the event.

Today’s decision came after more than 300 member organizations from around the world voted during InterPride’s 2021 general meeting, which was held virtually this week. InterPride is the organization behind WorldPride. The meeting featured performances by nonbinary actor and musician Kat Cunning.

“The WorldPride Taiwan Team 2025 would like to thank all before us who lit the way, to thank InterPride who built this wonderful organization and platform and thank our supporters who have bestowed this amazing opportunity for Taiwan and Asia,” Darien Chen, spokesperson for Kaohsiung Pride, said in a press release. “This is the beginning of a 4-year journey that we plan to ignite change in Asia, to promote InterPride’s mission, and to advance human rights in the world.”

InterPride said it was proud of the work put in by both the bidders.

“The Capital Pride Alliance congratulates Kaohsiung Pride on being awarded the opportunity to produce WorldPride 2025. We extend to them our heartfelt best wishes for a successful event. Capital Pride will use the next three years to continue with our long-standing plans to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Pride in Washington D.C. in June 2025,” said Ryan Bos, the executive director for Capital Pride Alliance.

WorldPride promotes LGBTQ+ rights awareness on a global scale and is licensed through one of InterPride’s member organizations. It’s made up of human rights conferences, concerts, and marches.

Co-president of InterPride, Julian Sanjivan, said, “Bringing WorldPride to this region for the first time will create a significant impact to the much-needed visibility and awareness of human rights for the LGBTQIA+ community there while providing the ability for millions more to participate from surrounding countries and territories including China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.”

WorldPride’s have previously taken place in Rome, Jerusalem, London, Toronto, Madrid, New York City, and Copenhagen. Sydney will host WorldPride 2023.

Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Alex Cooper