- Title: Thousands throng Taipei streets in East Asia's largest Pride march
- Date: 26th October 2019
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) PARADE PARTICIPANT, SUNNY LEE, SAYING: "I am very happy because more and more people come to the street today. In other words, the act of passing the law of same-sex marriage has encouraged more people standing up for themselves. We also see participants from other countries in today’s parade which is good thing for our country." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) PARADE PARTICIPANT, AMBER YAN, SAYING: "I support democracy. After seeing how people in Hong Kong are fighting for democracy and stand up for themselves without fear of the attacks from the polices, I'm very moved. So, I hope to do my part to help them in today’s parade by holding this sign from the start to the end. Keep it up Hong Kong!" VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS POSING FOR CAMERA AND DANCING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) PARADE PARTICIPANT, POTTER TSAI, SAYING: "I think Taiwan is making progress. Each group of people has a different opinion and they should respect each other. Don't attack others just because you don't like them. Be respectful on different points of views. We don't force others to agree with us either. Do what you like as long as it doesn't bother other people." ACTIVIST CHI CHIA-WEI WAVING RAINBOW FLAG FROM ROOFTOP CHI CHIA-WEI WAVING RAINBOW FLAG AND WAVING VARIOUS OF PARADE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 9th November 2019 14:48
- Keywords: Taiwan gay pride march Asia same-sex marriage
- Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- Country: Taiwan
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA002B2QF42H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: More than 100,000 people thronged the streets of Taiwan's capital Taipei on Saturday (October 26) for East Asia's largest Pride march, months after the self-ruled island began formally allowing same-sex marriage, the first place in Asia to do so.
Proudly democratic Taiwan is a bastion of liberal values in a part of the world where in many countries homosexuality remains illegal.
Since legalization on May 24, more than 2,150 same-sex couples have married in Taiwan, government data shows.
Organizers say more than 200,000 people are marching through the streets of Taipei, in a parade that will end in the evening outside the Presidential Office.
Chi Chia-wei, an activist who brought a case to Taiwan's constitutional court that led to a landmark court ruling on same-sex marriage in 2017, told Reuters that everyone was extremely happy.
Same-sex marriage remains illegal in Taiwan's giant neighbor China, which claims Taiwan as its sacred territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under Beijing's control.
Late last year, Taiwanese voters opposed same-sex marriage in a series of referendums, defining marriage as being between a man and a woman in civil law.
(Prodcution: I-Hwa Cheng) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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