Around a thousand LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender) people and their allies on Sunday flocked to the city’s Labor Culture Palace in District 1 for the event titled “Embrace Diversity Festival 2014”

The “Ngày hội Tôn Vinh Sự Đa Dạng 2014” (Embrace Diversity Festival 2014) was held on December 13 by ICS Center, an organization supporting LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender) community’s rights in Vietnam, attracting around a thousand people from the community and their allies.

The event is organized annually at the end of each year by ICS to conclude activities for the community in the four fields of family, school, work and law, as well as to honor individuals and organizations that have outstanding contributions to the community.

“The event is to review our achievements during the year and look forward to what we are going to do in the next year,” Huynh Minh Thao, ICS’s communication manager, the organizer’s representative told Tuoi Tre News at the event.

“We want the LGBT community to understand that they need to live with who they really are, as well as to let people know that LGBT also have their rights,” he added. “Life is full of diversity, so if you are in the LGBT community, you should be proud of it and convince your friends to understand that.”

One of the highlights of the day is the award ceremony “LGBT Appreciation 2014,” honoring people and organizations that outstandingly contributed to the LGBT community.

The awards included “Ally of The Year,” “Outstanding Movie,” “Couple of The Year,” “Outstanding Music,” “Outstanding Community Group,” “Celebrity of The Year,” “People of The Year,” ad “Coming Out People of The Year.”

Taking place at the city’s Labor Culture Palace in District 1, the 4-hour event also featured music and dance performances, plays, photo exhibition as well as information booth for people who wanted to get to know more about the community.

A catwalk performance by JS’ band, a dance group consisting of LGBT people, with colorful costumes, received tons of applause from the event’s participants.

The event also saw the participation of local celebrities such as model Ha Anh, actress Mai Thuy Huyen, transgender singer Huong Giang, singer Dinh Huy and others.

An indispensable activity of the annual event, a huge 6-color rainbow flag, the symbol of the community, was displayed at the end of the event, covering a part of the Labor Culture Palace’s campus.