Circuit gay parties

The entrance was totally unassuming at first. Arrived in a taxi to the hotel, I meandered my way through the massive lobby, up an escalator, around a corner. At first, there were few signs that nearly 20, gay men were here in the hotel, but as I got closer to the party entrance, that’s when I spotted them: guys in gold shorts (much too short even for this sweaty Thai weather), bulging biceps, feathers everywhere, a drag queen in platform shoes.

We followed this assortment of characters around another corner and that’s when we saw the giant approve in purple and gold: gCircuit. We were here!

• • •

The gCircuit party bills itself as Asia’s biggest gay event—and from even a short few minutes in the main dance hall, it was obvious this was no exaggeration. The event takes place every Spring, during the matching period as the annual Songkran festival. Songkran is a Thai holiday celebrating the Buddhist recent year, but one that has turned into a mixture of religious ceremonies and events as much as uncontrolled street parties with water fights and three