VietNamNet Bridge –The annual festival VietPride 2014 which supports the gay, bisexual, and transgender community (LGBT) will kick off tonight, July 18, in HCM City.

To open the four-day event, the MidNight Pink Pride Party will begin at 8pm at The Cube Bar at 31B Ly Tu Trong Street.

People are free to join the party's flashmob dance and music and song programmes, and take part in discussions.

The festival's theme, "Let Your Life Blossom", was chosen to encourage everyone in the LGBT community to have a positive outlook and be true to themselves.

The festival will include dozens of community and cultural activities, such as seminars, workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, and music and song programmes developed by the community.

The organiser, the Ha Noi-based Centre for Social Initiatives Promotion, has received support from local and foreign organisations, such as the US Embassy in Viet Nam, Civil Right Defenders, Goethe Institute, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam, and US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The VietPride 2014 festival will also be organised in 17 provinces and cities.

VNS/VNN