Growing up as a gay man in Indonesia has always meant constantly negotiating between my sexuality and social norms. In 2021, I had the privilege of moving abroad for work, living far away from my family, and that’s when I began to express myself more freely.
In 2024, I attended my first Pride parade in Bangkok. It was heartwarming to see that, somewhere not far from where I grew up, people could be themselves and love whomever they chose to love. We often think of Pride parades as celebrations that only happen in the “Global North,” but no, it’s happening here, too.
Then, in 2025, Thailand passed the same-sex marriage law, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. I guess love (also) wins here.