'I am me': What to expect at ShanghaiPRIDE

The countdown to ShanghaiPRIDE has officially begun. We’re lucky enough to live in the only city in China with a Pride festival, which between Friday 17 and Sunday 26 June, will be back for its eighth year with the theme ‘生为平常’or in English, ‘I Am Me’. According to PRIDE’s director Raymond Phang, it’s an 'affirmation that everyone should hold, regardless of gender, sexuality or other forms of identity'.

Look out for some teaser promo videos over on the PRIDE website during the next couple of weeks, featuring icons in the Chinese LGBTQ community, such as indie film director Fan Popo, acclaimed sociologist and recent Time Out interviewee Li Yinhe, and same-sex marriage promoters Sun Wenlin and Hu Mingliang.

One of the stand-out components of this year’s PRIDE looks to be its film festival, which seeks to showcase new and emerging Chinese film-making talent as well as those more established. For 2016, ShPFF’s theme will be gender, explored through the likes of film screenings and panel discussions exploring transgender, non-binary, agender and queer female identities. Keep an eye on the Time Out website for a full schedule, when it’s been released by the festival organisers this Friday 10 .

Arts offerings continue to flourish at PRIDE in part thanks to the ever-enjoyable theatre festival, which kicked things into gear last week with a pre-PRIDE programme. Fudan University’s gender research organisation Zhihe Society have begun performances of the original production Who the Hell, while Script Reading begins this Friday 3. Shanghai favourites Urban Aphrodite are presenting an adaptation of cult classic Psycho Beach Party between Thursday 23 and Saturday 25. There’s also a selection of various improv performances from Zmack Family and The Improvisers.

Also don’t miss out on PRIDE regulars – the PRIDE Run and subsequent Pink BBQ at The Langham on Saturday 18 always promise a good time, while a roster of parties (not to mention, drinks deals) are likely to up the ante. These include the Opening Party, also on Saturday 18, a Ladies’ Party on Thursday 23, and a Closing Party on Saturday 25.

For a look at the PRIDE programme as a whole, including other highlights such as the Art and Photo Exhibition, queer Trivia Night, and open days, visit the ShanghaiPRIDE website, or to find out more, follow them on WeChat (Shanghai-PRIDE), Weibo and Facebook.