LGBT VietPride parade brings colors to Ho Chi Minh City promenade A group of LGBT people dress under the theme of the six-color rainbow flag, the symbol of the LGBT community, at the VietPride parade in Ho Chi Minh City on August 16, 2015.Luong The Huy Thousands of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people and their friends on Sunday afternoon partook in a parade on the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The parade was part of a series of activities within the framework of this year’s annual LGBT support festival VietPride, themed “Spread My Wings,” which was held in the southern city from August 14 to 16 by ICS Center, an organization supporting LGBT community rights in Vietnam. Along with Ho Chi Minh City, the fest has been organized in 25 cities and provinces across the country from July 12 to August 23 with workshops, music performances, film screenings, outdoor activities and parades, with the participation of tens of thousands of LGBT people and their friends. On the same day of the parade, an outdoor event was also held at the Labor Culture House in District 1 with numerous activities. The event, decorated under the theme of a six-color rainbow flag, the symbol of the community, featured around 10 booths offering participants information or consultancy about the local LGBT community, as well as selling handicraft products, clothes and foods. Profits will be donated to local LGBT organizational activities. The event was attended by Vietnamese celebrities, such as singer Toc Tien and transgender singer Huong Giang, known for attending the 2012 Vietnam Idol singing contest. One of the most highlighted parts of the event was the pageant titled “Trans Icon” for transgender people, in the hope that transgender people will be encouraged to be more confident and proud of themselves. During August 14 and 15, a number of workshops, film screenings and plays also attracted many LGBT people and their friends. Below are some photos depicting 2015 VietPride in Ho Chi Minh City on August 16: The excited crowd passes the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica before reaching the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. Photo: Lieu Anh Vu Thousands of people parade for the LGBT community in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Luong The Huy A big six-color rainbow flag, the symbol of the LGBT community, is showcased at the parade with the crowd behind on the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. Photo: ICS Center Singer Toc Tien waves a six-color rainbow flag and cheers on her excited fans at the VietPride event. Photo: ICS Center An LGBT member registers for the “Trans Icon” pageant. Photo: Cam Tien A contestant performs a runway technique in front of a crowd for the “Trans Icon” pageant. Photo: Cam Tien A gay couple hugs while watching photos of LGBT people. Photo:Cam Tien Beverages with the colors of the LGBT rainbow flag. Photo: Cam Tien A participant signs to oppose discrimination and violence targeting LGBT people at school. Photo: Cam Tien TUOI TRE NEWS