To celebrate Pride Month and Thailand’s legalisation of same-sex marriages, Siam Piwat Group has revealed plans for a campaign dubbed The Celebration: Right to Love.
As the leading real estate and retail developer in Thailand – owner and operator of Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery and a joint-venture partner of IconSiam and the Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok – Siam Piwat believes the campaign reinforces its support for diversity, equality and inclusion.
Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex unions. Accordingly, Siam Piwat has pledged that its properties will serve as communities, empowering diversity, equality, and inclusion.
“These three core values have been our commitments and continuous practices that are rooted in the strong foundation of universal design where all of our retail premises and many services have been thoughtfully designed to be accessed by all people regardless of their age, gender, ability or disability,” explained Saruntorn Asaves, head of the shopping centre business division at Siam Piwat Group.
“Siam Piwat has committed to support and value diversity, equality, and inclusion in multi-dimensional practices in business, customer service, and in contribution to the society and the communities.”
Part of that commitment includes working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Thailand, a global organisation dedicated to the holistic development of people’s lives based on ethical principles.
For the coming Pride Month, a globally recognised LGBTQ+ event celebrated in major cities worldwide, Siam Piwat is ready to be a ‘Pride Festival Destination’ hosting world-class events and amplifying its positioning as providing ‘global destinations’ that attract locals and visitors from across the globe. Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery and IconSiam are co-hosting Bangkok Pride, under the The Celebration: Right to Love campaign. Headline events include the Bangkok Pride Parade – a celebration of Pride Month bringing together the LGBTQ+ communities from Thailand and beyond – on June 1.
Last year’s event – when Siam Piwat and Naruemit Pride co-hosted Bangkok Pride – proved such a huge success, drawing more than 50,000 attendees, Siam Piwat decided to expand its reach this year, with as many as 200,000 participants expected.
Asaves says Siam Piwat expects the events to cater to a diverse range of visitors with different lifestyles and interests and that Bangkok’s Pride Month will significantly stimulate Thailand’s economy and travel industries.
The organisers are determined to propel Bangkok Pride into a global festival capable of attracting tourists from all over the world to visit Thailand every June.
“This demonstrates Thailand’s potential for hosting the World Pride 2030 event, aiming to promote Thailand as a world-class event hub offering world-class experiences.”
The campaign was launched at an event attended by the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Partners include government agencies and private organisations including Bangkok Pride, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, UNDP, Drag Bangkok, Wild Brain CPLG, Miss Grand International, Tiffany’s Show Pattaya, TikTok Thailand, Thai Wacoal, Thai Association of Boys Love Content, Dhipaya Insurance, Nestle, Yanhee Hospital, The Voice LGBTQ+, White Party Bangkok, and many more.
Siam Piwat properties to host different Pride events during June
During Pride Month – June – each of the participating Siam Piwat properties will host different events as part of the campaign.
Siam Paragon will co-host The Bangkok Pride Forum 2024, a crucial platform welcoming individuals and representatives working with LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, featuring more than 20 sessions of discussions and talks from May 31 to June 4 at SCBX Next Tech on Siam Paragon’s 4th floor. The Drag Bangkok Festival 2024 – known for its captivating vibrancy that draws audiences worldwide – will take over Parc Paragon at Siam Paragon from May 31 to June 4, marking its first festivities in Thailand and Asia.
Under The Celebration: Right to Love campaign, Siam Center the Ideopolis has collaborated with WildBrain’s world-renowned characters, Teletubbies. The characters share the values of belonging as inclusive characters who welcome everyone into their world and can live together in happiness and joy. Teletubbies will serve as Pride Ambassadors at the event, and participate in the Bangkok Pride Parade.
Two leading activities involving the Teletubbies are Siam Center x Teletubbies Experience Space and the Wacoal X Teletubbies Cafe – the first Teletubbies Cafe in Thailand, located on Siam Center’s Ground Floor amid the Teletubbies’ world of lush green hills, serving beverages and treats. Exclusive Teletubbies-themed merchandise tailored for Siam Center’s Absolute Siam will also be available.
Meanwhile, Siam Discovery The Exploratorium joins Mister International Thailand, a contest showcasing diversity and Road to Runway activities that will take place at Siam Discovery in June.
IconSiam and ICS will launch the IconSiam Proud Out Loud campaign to celebrate diversity, equality, and inclusion for people and their careers throughout June. A Pride Out Loud Exhibition will feature successful LGBTQ+ individuals in various career fields. Thailand’s first The Proud Reflexions Exhibition will feature exclusive art toys by LGBTQ+ artists, and LGBTQ – Friendly, creator of popular characters such as Rainbow Kido, Dolores and Poriin, from June 1-18 at the Charoen Nakorn Hall in IconSiam.
On June 8 and 9, IconSiam will host a Pride Market at River Park. Features of this include a fashion show Pride Out Loud presents: Thai Pride x Iconcraft by Miss Tiffany’s Universe and LGBTQ+ models. A mini concert by Gene Kasidit will be held on June 8 and the following day visitors can meet Thanasit ‘Thon’ Jaturaput and Pure The Voice and peruse exclusive merchandise.
Visitors can also enjoy a rainbow waterfall show at the Alangkarn zone on IconSiam’s 6th Floor with Southeast Asia’s longest Iconic Multimedia Water Feature adopting a rainbow theme and many more activities throughout June.
The OneSiam SuperApp, Siam Piwat Group’s mobile application, will feature a gamification-themed The Celebration: Right to Love and offer prizes.
Collective wedding ceremonies mark marriage equality law
In addition, to celebrate Thailand becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, Siam Piwat Group is supporting collective wedding ceremonies in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and district offices, offering venues such as Siam Paragon’s Paragon Hall and IconSiam’s True Icon Hall. The ceremonies will welcome local and international couples who wish to participate.
A sustainable approach to Pride Month
As Pride Month coincides with World Environment Day on June 5, Siam Piwat has launched an exclusive edition of its OneSiam Pride Edition drinking water. The canned packaging features six vibrant Pride flag colours including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Created by award-winning designer Somchana Kangwarnjit, who has more than 200 international awards, the cups were crafted by Greenery Water, Thailand’s first aluminium canned water producer. OneSiam Water was introduced at the end of last year to drive more sustainable consumerism, promoting the idea of world-saving beverages in aluminium packaging that can be fully recycled. The initiative aligns with the principles of comprehensive waste management, the Siam Piwat 360° Waste Journey to Zero Waste, and the drive towards zero waste organisations.
Used OneSiam water cans will be repurposed as costumes and showcased in a fashion show on June 4, at SCBX Next Tech in Siam Paragon.
