PRESS RELEASE: WORLDPRIDE 2025 BID WON BY KAOHSIUNG PRIDE IN A HISTORIC VOTE FOR THE GLOBAL AND EAST ASIAN LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITIES
Release Date: November 12, 2021, Updated: November 16, 2021
InterPride is excited to announce that Kaohsiung Pride in Taiwan has won the bid to host WorldPride in 2025. With this monumental vote by InterPride members, a WorldPride will be held in East Asia for the first time. The members of InterPride voted on the host of WorldPride in 2025 over four days during the 2021 General Meeting & World Conference. The two bidders for WorldPride 2025 were Capital Pride Alliance, Washington D.C., and Kaohsiung Pride, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
The annual gathering of Pride organizers from around the world, the InterPride 2021 General Meeting & World Conference, began on November 6th, 2021. In light of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference and bidding process took place virtually. More than 300 member organizations worldwide participated in the voting process, workshops, plenary sessions, regional and board meetings during the 8-day virtual event.
“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. 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,” said Darien Chen, the official spokesperson for Kaohsiung Pride in response to this historic vote.
InterPride is proud of the hard work, dedication, and passion both the bidders for WorldPride 2025 put forth in this momentous vote.
“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 A. Bos, the Executive Director for Capital Pride Alliance, in response to the announcement.
Licensed by InterPride and organized by one of its members, WorldPride is an international event that promotes visibility and awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues on a global scale. Cultural events such as human rights conferences and parades/marches make up WorldPride.
“Bringing WorldPride to East Asia 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,” added Julian Sanjivan, Co-President of InterPride.
From Rome to Jerusalem to London to Toronto to Madrid to New York City to Copenhagen, WorldPride has been a worldwide renowned Pride event since 2000. In 2023, Sydney, Australia, will host the WorldPride.
Additionally, InterPride’s 2021 General Meeting & World Conference celebrated outstanding Pride organizers from each continent through its annual InterPride Awards ceremony. The event also included an extraordinary non-binary (they/them/theirs) performance actor and musician, Kat Cunning. They are an up-and-coming alternative pop performer and human rights advocate. Kat made their musical debut with favorite fan singles such as “King of Shadow’’ and “Birds” which were two of the most popular songs from the YA smash TRINKETS, in addition to their appearances in HBO’s The Deuce with James Franco and the Broadway production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Netflix). Kat will appear in the upcoming JLo film, Marry Me, and is presently on tour with Verité in North America. Nylon, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, and Earmilk have all covered Kat as a non-binary person. It was a privilege to host this highly gifted artist at InterPride.
InterPride’s 2022 General Meeting & World Conference will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, on October 27th, 2022. InterPride is incredibly proud to see our first conference in Latin America happening in person since the pandemic began.
About InterPride:
InterPride brings together Pride organizations from around the world, as well as regional, national, and local Pride networks, therefore contributing to the global coordination of Pride efforts. InterPride has over 300 member organizations in over 60 countries. Our work impacts millions worldwide through our members. InterPride is also the owner of WorldPride, and InterPod, the official podcast of InterPride. For further reference, please check out:
- Website: https://InterPride.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterPride
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldPride
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/InterPride
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/InterPride
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/InterPride
For Media Inquiries, please contact:
Julian Sanjivan (they/them/theirs), Co-President, InterPride, julian.sanjivan@interpride.org
Cathy Renna (she/her/hers), Media Strategist, cathy@targetcue.com
