Shanghai Pride

In 2009, the event was held for the first time from 7 to 13 June 2009.[1] No parade took place as the legal advice sought by the organisers indicated that Chinese authorities would not approve of a parade taking place in the city. Instead, the event was celebrated as a pride festival with cultural events.[3][4] Organizers stated that this was the first LGBT festival in China; there are individuals, mostly Chinese LGBT activists, who say that there were organized LGBT events that occurred prior to Shanghai Pride.[5]

The festival featured events such as an art exhibition and film screenings. There was also a large party hosted by a privately owned venue.[3] Three thousand people from China and other countries attended the festival.[3][6] There was also to be a raffle to raise money for the Chiheng Foundation AIDS Orphans project.[2]

In 2010 the event was held during October, directly following the closing days of the Shanghai Expo, over a 3-week period.

In 2011 the event was again held during October, this time in over 9 days.

For the 2012 event, the organisers have announced that it will move back to June and be held over 9 days.

2018 Shanghai Pride celebrated its 10th year.

The event in 2019 was held from 18 May to 16 June.[7]

• The first event was the Rainbow Bike Pride. The 2019 Shanghai Pride Rainbow Bike Ride was held Saturday 18 May to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). Six teams set off from every corner of Shanghai, snaking through the city via different routes before converging at Cotton's – an F&B venue located on Xinhua Road. Each of the six teams represented one color of the rainbow flag. Riders gathered at the starting point decked in Pride T-shirts and sporting customized Pride backpacks. After the opening remarks and group photos, each team set off, hearts pumping with pride to ride in support of the LGBT community. Between 10:30 am and 11:30 am, the six teams arrived at Cotton's in quick succession. A team of volunteers were waiting to welcome them, taking group photos for them and arranging a place for much needed rest.[8]
• After the Rainbow Bike Pride, multiple film festivals and art exhibitions. In the film festivals, various LGBT themed movies were shown. In the art exhibitions (Pride Art), the public was asked to submit artwork that showcases self-identity, diversity, and Pride, in order for it to be showcased it the exhibition.
• On 13 June, the Shanghai Pride Out & Equal Conference was held. For a second year, Shanghai Pride partnered with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates to discuss how to advance LGBT workplace diversity and inclusion. Over 100 companies attended this year's forum doubling the attendance from the previous year.[9]
• On the same day, there was a Ladies' Party.
• On 15 June, the annual Pride Run took place. Seven separate teams, from seven different starting points, ran towards Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai, where a brunch buffet awaited the runners. All participants received a Pride Run medal, a Nike Be True T-shirt and a mystery goody bag.

The festival is organised by volunteers from the Shanghai LGBT community. During its conception in 2009, the event planning, partnerships and execution were led by two moderators, American women Tiffany Lemay and Hannah Miller, who had resided in Shanghai for several years.[3] Their status as outsiders created an advantage to hosting the festival, and reduced the potential for government interference.[3] Miller, a lesbian living in the city since 2001, views Shanghai as "undoubtedly China's most liberal and progressive city", which is thus the reasoning for them hosting the festival in the city.[1] Lemay said: '...last year, we saw the Beijing Olympics described as "China's coming out" party. Now China is really coming out – this time from the closet'.[2]

In 2010, with the event now established, there was greater collaboration between local LGBT groups and other organisations. This has continued during the planning period in 2011 and 2012.

The 2009 Shanghai Pride event was only publicized in English, and its website was only in English. Most of the organizers were white people who originated from Western countries and were of the middle class, and therefore most of the participants were from the same demographic. One reason why the 2009 event had these demographics was because the working language of the Shanghai LGBT Group was English; foreign expatriates had established the groups. In addition, the publicity was only in English to avoid causing the Chinese government to enact additional restrictions or control. Now the Shanghai Pride website is available both in English and Chinese. The organization also has put a lot of effort into attracting the Chinese crowd in order to facilitate the integration between the LGBT Chinese and the LGBT expatriates.[11]

• LGBT culture in Shanghai
• Homosexuality in China
• Human rights in China

• Bao, Hongwei (2012). "Queering/Querying Cosmopolitanism: Queer Spaces in Shanghai" (PDF). Culture Unbound. Linköping University. 4: 97–120. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2014.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

• Official website
• ShanghaiPRIDE Blog
• GayShanghai.com, Gay Guide to Shanghai
• LaoWaiTalk.com, LGBT Community Forum