Pump up the rainbow: Asia’s queer voices are louder than before

June 2022 calls for the 52nd anniversary of Pride Month for LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide. A time for celebration, empowerment, awareness and, historically, a protest that shows support for their rights.

It all dates back to when Pride events were held by LGBT communities in June of 1969 to commemorate the Stonewall riots in the United States. This was a monumental moment in history where patrons of a gay bar in Manhattan, The Stonewall Inn, fought against a police raid. Ever since then, to commemorate the uprising, June was marked by the community as a month of celebration and in 1994, Pride parades made their way to Asia with the very first one held on August 28 in Tokyo, Japan. Today, we are seeing a slow but positive direction towards each country’s progress in the region, with Taiwan legalising same-sex marriage in 2019 and hopefully Thailand following in its footsteps.

We have reached out to a number of communities around the region to ask them a few questions relating to the spirit of the month. In addition, they’ve graced us with their pick of top three tracks that express ultimate freedom. Venturing out to China, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, we learn what Pride means to these supportive communities, plus what makes them go all out on the dance floor.

So let’s take the bass beyond the rainbow across Asia and enjoy the colourful Pride playlist compiled across nine different countries.

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“Embracing Pride and LGBTQIA+ values means to queerify heteronormative structures and to be militant in creating safe spaces for each other.”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“Same as the rest of the world, perhaps! There's still an apparent inequality and lack of justice. But yes, we're still pushing the revolution on the streets and on the dance floor.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Florian Kupfer ‘Random Chaos' - karlovv
2. Solid Sessions ‘Janeiro’ (Instrumental)' - adriannne
3. Channel X ‘Rave the Rhythm' - dignos_

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“As one of our DJs, Target Employee said: “Feel free to be the trash you are.” ”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“Taiwan celebrates Pride a bit differently than other countries. Our national Pride month is in October. It features the biggest Pride parade in Asia on the last weekend of October. We still throw some queer events in June though, like Drag Brunch at Cafe Dalida — an iconic gay bar in Taipei. There are also Pride Parades in other cities in Taiwan, like Kaohsiung and Taichung. As the first country to legalize gay marriage in Asia, our queer scene is very proud and ever-growing.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Madonna ‘Hung Up’
2. Jennifer Lopez ‘Waiting for Tonight’
3. Lady Gaga ‘Rain on me’ (featuring Ariana Grande)

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“Embracing Pride and LGBTQIA+ values is all about celebrating being OUT! Live to be the most honest version of yourself, and let others around you do the same; and celebrate them.”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“Unfortunately there are no Pride parades in Shanghai anymore, so it’s up to every organization to make an effort to best to embrace Pride in any way you can and fly a rainbow.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Ultra Natè ‘Free’ (Radio Edit)
2. Ministers De La Funk, Jocelyn Brown ‘Believe’ (Ministers Vocal Mix)
3. Michael Cignarale ‘She Takes Me Over’

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“For us, it’s about creating a safe space on the dance floor for everyone in every shape and form.”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“Officially, we don’t have a Pride celebration since being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community is still frowned upon here. But we’d imagine the community is celebrating it in their own way through going to inclusive parties such as ours.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Sophie ‘Immaterial’
2. Alice Deejay ‘Better Off Alone’
3. Jennifer Lopez ‘Dance Again’

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“To remember the journey and history of the heroes that build our ever-changing culture today, and give a home to new generations a place to express their nuances.”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“We celebrate within the community and by our community, raise awareness to younger generations through our NGO reports, Pride events and bike parades, independent news channels and magazines, showing support by celebrating community icons through sharing their stories, along with queer club collectives throughout the country throwing ball competitions.

Safe to say we celebrate Pride with progress, through activism, medical advances, most importantly being able to shift opinions in society, influencing younger generations along with their multicultural points of view, and the most progressive places for solidarity are clubs and raves.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Kylie Minogue ‘I Should Be So Lucky’
2. Donna Summer ‘Sunset People’
3. Scissor Sisters ‘Let’s Have A Kiki’

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“We all share the same values, regardless of our identities and we need to be making these steps, no matter how small and slow towards the direction of peace, acceptance, and love.”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“Celebrating Pride especially within the context of a still marginalised region should centre around the idea of creating safe spaces for the community to come together. We believe at the end of the day it’s truly about love and unity in all of its facets and dimensions.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Suzanne Palmer ‘I Believe’ (Mark!’s Full On Gospel Mix)
2. Romie Singh ‘Cry Freedom’
3. Aretha ‘I’m every woman/Respect’ (Eric Kupper Remix)

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“For us at Two Queens Asia, all it means is to respect and love people as who they are.

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“The queer community still struggles with acceptance in Singapore, and the only big ‘parade’ that happens during Pride month is Pink Dot SG, where the community and allies alike come together for a day of love and celebration. Sadly, it is still technically considered a protest by the government but we find a way every year. There are also a lot of amazing local organisations with their own program lineups that offer different support and services for the community.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Dirty South, Alesso, Ruben Haze ‘City of Dreams’
2. Avicii ‘The Nights’
3. Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha ‘In the Name of Love’

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“Although it took me all of my adolescence and most of my adult life to embrace it, expressing vulnerability through the things that make me different is what Pride means to me.”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“Back in New York, where I’m from, Pride is basically a holiday that is celebrated for the whole month of June. The event line-up is huge and there is pretty much something for everybody. It is a bit more calm here, but I’ve managed to bring a piece of New York to Hong Kong through the HOST & BADBUI parties that I have thrown at Mihn Club. I hope that my parties have influenced the scene even just a little bit because there is so much untapped potential in the gay scene here in Hong Kong. It can only get better.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!

1. Sneaker Pimps, Armand Van Helden ‘Spin Spin Sugar’ (Armand’s Dark Garage Mix)
2. Purple Disco Machine ‘Body Funk’
3. Donna Summer ‘I Feel Love’

In one sentence, what does it mean to embrace Pride and LGBTQIA+ values?

“A celebration of queerness to be proud of who we are and embracing any expression and love we need to feel whole.”

How do you celebrate Pride month in your country?

“We celebrate in our LGBTQ community with parties, parades, art and music. Go Grrrls are also throwing a late Pride party at beginning of July with our queer friends and families.”

Name three electronic dance tracks that scream freedom on a dance floor!
1. Marie Davidson ‘Work It’ (Soulwax Remix)
2. Lady Gaga ‘Free Woman’ (Rina Sawayama & Clarence Clarity Remix)
3. Robyn ‘Dancing On My Own’

We’ve compiled the chosen tracks into a single playlist for your listening pleasure, check it out here.