Tokyo Gay Pride sees resurgence!

Gay.com UK
10 August, 2005
by Ben Townley

Tokyo’s Pride celebrations are to be resurrected, as countries across Asia push for more lesbian and gay events. Tokyo’s main celebrations have not taken place in the Japanese capital for three years, with organisers warning that the “logistical burden” of the event led to plans stalling at every opportunity, the Kyodo News agency reports.

However, they hope the new event will help unify the city’s lesbian and gay communities. "We haven't set a unified slogan, but are expecting thousands of participants united in their common cause as sexual minorities and their supporters," Hideki Sunagawa said.
He added that the Pride event would also help raise awareness of lesbian and gay people.

Elsewhere in Asia, recent Pride successes have seen a flush of new events being launched.
The continent’s first lesbian film festival launched last week in Taiwan, featuring 31 films from 10 countries.

Last month, Asia’s first LGBT conference was held in Thailand, featuring more than 160 delegates from across the globe. The meet was intended to help ease problems faced by LGBT people from across the region, but also featured delegates form the Middle East, North America and Europe. "By bringing together Asian and Western researchers and activists our aim is to work collaboratively to ensure dignity and equal opportunities for Asia's homosexual and transgender peoples," Australian conference co-organiser Associate Professor Peter Jackson of the Australian National University in Canberra said at the time.

It’s not all plain sailing however. Despite playing host to one of Asia’s biggest gay parties, Singapore has recently faced government blocks to planned events, including a ban on a gay singing duo who were due to appear at a HIV benefits concert and a block to a gay Pride festival, which was transferred to Thailand. Tokyo's Pride will take place this weekend.