Herein below, we've put together an abridged schedule of what's on to highlight a few of the... um... highlights of the thing. This year's theme is "I Am Me", obviously a message of pride, self-respect, and confidence in one's identity out there in the world.
For a full listing of everything associated with ShanghaiPRIDE on SmartShanghai, check our dedicated tag page. For even more information, go to ShanghaiPRIDE's official website.
ShanghaiPRIDE 2016 Trivia Night
Wednesday, June 22 @ Lucca
Here's a fun one that breaks up the more serious elements of PRIDE a bit -- a trivia night at gay club Lucca. "Nerdy is the new sexy!" (It is?) PRIDE trivia night is for teams of five, but if you can't manage to pull one together they'll help you out with meeting people. Good in-road into the community, then, if you're new to town or are looking to upgrade to a smarter class of friends. Prizes for top three teams and more raffles and stuff throughout the evening. Lucca is also offering a buy-one-get-one-free burger deal as well, and drinks deals. Runs from 8pm-11pm.
ShanghaiPRIDE 2016 Ladies Party
Thursday, June 23 @ The Apartment
Sisters gone werk it out! This year's ShanghaiPRIDE Ladies Party is this Thursday night does at The Apartment. It's a strictly ladies only affair in the contemporary sense of the term, which means drag queens are more than welcome to attend. Doors open to public after midnight. No cover. Starts at 9pm.
Urban Aphrodite: Psycho Beach Party
June 23-25 @ Sasha's
Part of the theater portion of PRIDE, we're thinking Friday night is ideal to catch local theater group Urban Aphrodite's campy stag piece, Psycho Beach Party. Taking inspiration from '60s beach party epics of yore and Hitchcock suspense thrillers also of yore, this genre mash-up stage comedy "boasts hot bods surfer dudes, an audience-driven limbo competition, and the best Joan Crawford reference of all time." Voracious vixens. Hot bod surfer dudes. World domination. What else do you need for a Friday night. Beach attire encouraged. Runs from 7.30pm-9.30pm each night. You can book tickets on the ShanghaiPRIDE website.
ShanghaiPRIDE 2016 LGBTQ Groups Open Day
June 25 @ Andaz Shanghai
An information event for LGBTQ, family, and allies to connect with their larger support communities, the Groups Open Day is back this year, hosting 33 groups from China and beyond introducing themselves and the fine works they do. "These groups include transgender communities, bisexual communities, LGBTQ media organizations, queer social networks, swimming team, choir, cycling club, etc." -- anything, everything, everyone. Sounds like some inclusive vibes. I am me. You are you. We are we. Us is us. Let's bring it all together, eh. Great for if you're looking to meet new, like-minded people out there in Shanghai, China, and the world, and find some support. Should be good to do something positive with your day before you get crazy at the PRIDE closing party. Goes from 10am-3pm.
ShanghaiPRIDE 2016 Closing Party
June 25 @ Reel To Reel
ShanghaiPRIDE 2016 officialy wraps up for another year, just down the street from Andaz at Reel To Reel. They're going OUT (pun, yeah!) with a big bash -- drinks, dancing, music, fabulous kings and queens, and more. Music by Theo Man, Dave K, Michelle Grant and Steff Roubel. Starts 9.30pm. Entry is 100rmb, including a drink. Always packed, this party.
3rd Annual Asia LGBT Milestone Awards & Forum (& Cocktail Mixer)
June 26 @ Grand Kempinski Hotel & The Pearl
Closing out on a formal note, Asia’s most well-known LGBT magazine, Singapore's Element is partnering with ShanghaiPRIDE to host the third edition of the Asia LGBT Milestone Awards and Business Diversity Forum, which is an event that recognizes "occasions, programmes, activities, and initiatives deemed as key milestone moments for the LGBT community in Asia."
So, it's part awards ceremony for business and community leaders, captains of industry, and social activists, and part economic discussion forum on issues affecting the LGBT community. This year's focus is on inclusiveness in Asian economic and business spheres, and they're hosting in speakers from IBM, Goldman Sachs, and the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. A bit of a more serious to-do at the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai is capped off with a cocktails mixer later in the evening at The Pearl.
This one's an invite-only kind of thing and you've got to email them to register and get the invite code. Look at all those logos at the bottom of the flyer. If you're angling towards fanning out a few business cards, this one looks like the jam.
3 PRIDE Film Festival Recommendations by Co-Founder Alvin Li
A huge component this year of ShanghaiPRIDE is the ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival (ShPFF), happening concurrently with the other events, returning to the program for the second year. A diverse and international assemblage of queer film, organizers have assembled 40 works in four thematic strands: Asian Cinema, Queer History, Lala Stories, and the main topic, Gender. There's also a Queer Film Conference Day all day on Saturday that looks great.
Aks Film + Dialogue Festival Presents: Chuppan Chupai
7pm, Tuesday, June 21 @ Xin Cafe (Changle Lu).
"On Tuesday, we’ve invited Aks Films + Dialogue Festival to present a special program of films from Pakistan that zooms in on the country’s transgender community and other sexual minorities."
East Palace, West Palace (Zhang Yuan, 1996)
7pm, Friday, June 24 @
"This year is the 20th anniversary of East Palace, West Palace, one of the earliest Chinese feature films that radically explores themes of sexuality, gender, and surveillance and remains one of the most subversive queer films in the history of Chinese cinema. Expect a secret guest that night…"
Lawrence Anyways (Xavier Dolan , 2012)
3.30pm, Sunday, June 26 @ Kartel
"The third feature film made by Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan, the golden child of the film industry whose pretty face is also all over LV campaigns nowadays, Lawrence Anyways tells the story about the impossible love between a cisgender woman and a trans woman as each undergoes her own transformation. Premiered at 2012 Cannes Film Festival, the lead actress Suzanne Clément won the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Actress. The film also won the Queer Palm Award at the festival."
We'll end with a quote from ShanghaiPRIDE co-founder Charlene Liu.
"I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to support the local LGBTQ communities, tell a friend or two to create awareness, and help to promote acceptance along the way."
Happy PRIDE 2016, y'all.
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