- Title: TAIWAN: 7th annual Gay Pride Parade help in Taipei
- Date: 1st November 2009
- Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (OCTOBER 31, 2009) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERING IN FRONT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE MAN POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WOMAN TAKING PICTURES MAN POSING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA PEOPLE GATHERING PEOPLE PASSING A LARGE RAINBOW FLAG PEOPLE IN COSTUME PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES OF OTHERS IN COSTUME PEOPLE IN COSTUME POSING FOR THE CAMER
- Embargoed: 16th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA4PLOEV4FUKERXF6HL3UENW9P3
- Story Text: Gay rights supporters gather in front of Taiwan's presidential palace, urging the government to protect sexual equality.
Thousands held rainbow flags and marched in front of Taiwan's presidential palace on Saturday (October 31) to show their support for the gay rights movement.
In the seventh annual LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pride Parade, supporters, many dressed in elaborate or revealing costumes, filling Taipei streets with colourful banners and signs to call out for gay rights.
While many came just to party, the event traditionally acts as a platform to raise awareness about homosexuality. Many also use the parade to petition the island nation's liberal government on a range of issues, from gay marriage to distribution of gay writing and images.
"We want to show our positive qualities. I wear angel wings and wish to reduce stereotypes. Gays are not promiscuous or bad, we are good like angels too," said Joe, a participant.
Some joined the parade to promote safe sex.
"We are distributing condoms and promoting the prevention of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. We dress up in costumes to attract attention, and give condoms to passersby," said Hsiao Lin, who was dressed in a traditional Taiwanese woman's costume.
Gay rights issues have become high profile in Taiwan in recent years, with politicians from both the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the now-ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) promoting gay rights to woo gay voters.
But almost a hundred groups signed up for the parade, saying that in the past seven years they see no progress in government's efforts to promote equality for people with different gender orientations.
The event organisers urged the government to pay serious attention to the needs of homosexual groups, and provide them an environment with equal rights, without prejudice, according to a statement.
"I just joined this circle last year. I've been a victim of sexual discrimination and violence in the school and in the society. Gays need to be respected in public, so I take action to support this event," said 20-year-old Mu Hsiung-hou, who wanted to be identified by his nickname.
Taiwan's gay pride parade started in 2003, with a humble outing of just around 500.
A vibrant gay scene has blossomed in Taiwan since the self-governed nation threw off dictatorship in the late eighties, and moved towards the liberal democracy.
Gay clubs, bars, specialised shops, bookstores are found in Taiwan, in stark contrast to mainland China, where the gay community is only just starting to emerge from underground.
A 2006 survey by the National Union of Taiwan Women's Association / Constitutional Reform Alliance showed that 75 percent of the Taiwanese public supported same-sex relationships, global monitor Angus Reid said on its website.
Nonetheless, despite former president Chen Shui-bian's 2003 proposal of a legislation for same-sex marriage and adoption, gay marriage is still illegal in Taiwan, where many still hold traditional Confucian principles on matrimony. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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