Bangkok's Pride Festival kicked off with the beauty pageant Miss Trans Thailand.

Footage shows the transgender beauty queens showing off their costumes while smiling for the judges on the stage and posing for pictures as part of the event dubbed Bangkok Pride Parade 2024.

The contest opened the festivity, themed ‘Celebrations of Love' and held from June 1 to June 4. Three main events were the pride parade, forum, and ‘Drag Bangkok Festival.'

Parades were held from 3 pm to 5 pm on June 1 and converged at the Central World by 10 pm. They had a 200-metre-long pride flag, attended by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and several politicians from the Pheu Thai Party.

A six-day forum, which included seminars on LGBT, the economy, human rights, education, technology, and health, would be held from May 31 to June 5.

Drag shows and performances were also scheduled everyday from June 1 to June 3 after the opening. The ‘Surpride After Party' was held on June 1, followed by Drag Arena International on June 2, and the Drag Bangkok Grand Finale Show on June 3.

Organisers said the events aim to celebrate the upcoming marriage equality bill, which will take effect later this year after passing the final reading of the House of Representatives. It approved a civil partnership bill in 2020 granting same-sex union rights.

They added the event was a preparation for Thai LGBT and pride organisers who were aiming to host the InterPride World Conference in 2025 and Bangkok WorldPride in 2030.