The Voice franchise is making moves to become more inclusive by launching an LGBTQ+ version of The Voice Thailand called The Voice Pride.
The special season will air next year to coincide with Thailand’s Pride Month, which begins in June.
It’s unclear if the spin-off version will be adapted by other countries, including the US, or if it will only remain in Thailand.
A number of gender-bending talents have performed on international versions of The Voice in the past, including singer Fatt Butcher and drag queen Divina de Campo, who both appeared on The Voice UK.
A drag group named Stephanie’s Child performed on The Voice US, while drag queen Jimi the Kween performed The Voice Australia.
‘The Voice Pride is not just a competition but a celebration of love, acceptance, and incredible talent,’ the show’s production company said in a statement, via Realscreen.
The Voice franchise is making moves to become more inclusive by launching an LGBTQ+ version of The Voice Thailand called The Voice Pride
‘As Thailand takes historic steps toward equality, we’re proud to amplify the voices of the LGBTQ+ community and give them the spotlight they deserve,’ they continued.
‘This milestone edition of The Voice embodies the core values of the format — celebrating individuality, diversity, and the universal language of music.’
In June, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage following a historic parliamentary vote which was hailed by campaigners as a major victory.
The senate upper house gave final approval – by 130 votes to four, with 18 abstentions – to changes to the marriage law allowing same-sex couples to tie the knot.
Thailand will become only the third place in Asia where same-sex couples can get hitched, after Taiwan and Nepal, and activists are hoping the first weddings could be celebrated as early as October.
‘We are very proud of everyone involved in this historic moment. You have helped to bring about a massive change,’ Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, an LGBTQ activist and member of the committee that scrutinized the law, told senators after the vote.
‘Today love wins over prejudice.’
The new legislation changes references to ‘men’, ‘women’, ‘husbands’ and ‘wives’ in marriage laws to gender-neutral terms.
It’s unclear if the spin-off version will be adapted by other countries, including the US, or if it will only remain in Thailand
A number of gender-bending talents have performed on international versions of The Voice in the past
It also gives same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual ones when it comes to adoption and inheritance.
‘My partner has one boy and I want to have legal rights to formally adopt him as my child and to have a say about his well-being. This bill will allow it,’ Kevin Pehthai Thanomkhet, 30, said.
Thailand has long enjoyed a reputation for tolerance of the LGBTQ community, and opinion polls reported in local media show overwhelming public support for equal marriage.
More than 30 countries around the world have legalized marriage for all since the Netherlands became the first to celebrate same-sex unions in 2001.
But in Asia only Taiwan and Nepal recognize marriage equality. India came close in October, but the Supreme Court referred the decision back to parliament.
‘I am so happy to see how far we have come,’ said Chotika Hlengpeng, a participant in the Pride march that drew thousands of enthusiasts in Bangkok early in June.
