LGBTI+ Festival returns to Hong Kong

Pink Dot Hong Kong is back again this Sunday, and it’s bigger than ever. If you’ve never been, it’s an annual, free outdoor festival and concert organised for LGBTI+ and their allies to spend a day partying in the name of diversity and love. It’s family friendly, and everyone who believes in equality is welcome, even four-legged allies (there’s even a Pet Zone helmed by local rescue organisation LAP.)

This year it’s being held at the West Kowloon Nursery Park, from 1pm onwards. The theme is ‘Love is Natural’, and all guests are encouraged to come in their best and brightest pink get-ups; fancy dress is definitely welcomed. There are buskers, DJs, and headlining acts like AGA, Anthony Wong, Ellen Loo, GDJYB, and more that you won’t want to miss.

One of the Pink Dot sponsors, Absolut Vodka, has started their celebrations early with a limited edition rainbow bottle. It’s part of their #KissWithPride campaign, which highlights the fact that, in 2017, same-sex relationships are still illegal in 72 countries. The campaign features couples from those countries sharing a kiss, to celebrate their freedom to love who they choose.

It hasn’t always been easy to love freely in Hong Kong. It was only 11 years ago that the Hong Kong Court of Appeals ruled to prevent unrest differential treatment based on sexual orientation. To mark the anniversary, Absolut is releasing 1100 of those rainbow bottles, 100 for each year of equality in Hong Kong, and they’re only available here, starting Sunday.

If you can’t wait four days, enter their Instagram contest by posting a photo of a kiss and tagging #KissWithPride #AbsolutHK and @Absolut_HK. Eleven of the best photos will win a bottle and a Pink Dot Survival Kit from Absolut Vodka, but the contest ends today so get smooching!