TAIWAN: Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community lobby for an end to discrimination, during one of Asia's largest gay pride parades in Taiwan's capital Taipei

Record ID: 277594

  • Title: TAIWAN: Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community lobby for an end to discrimination, during one of Asia's largest gay pride parades in Taiwan's capital Taipei
  • Date: 29th October 2011
  • Summary: PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) EVENT ORGANIZER LAI CHENG-CHE, SAYING "I think Taiwanese society is basically liberal, but discrimination has only been repackaged. We hear people say 'respect gays' but they won't let us teach people about what is gay. How is this respect? For example when we say 'respect the aboriginal people', don't we have to learn abo
  • Embargoed: 13th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Taiwan, Province of China
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: Entertainment,Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA5WYUE99VRPV0LYB6XY342SFSZ
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands participated in Taiwan's ninth annual LGBT Pride Parade on Saturday (October 29). The demonstrators gathered in front of Taiwan's Presidential Palace to call for an end to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
    Gay rights advocates held up rainbow flags and banners in a march across downtown Taipei.
    Dressed in a colourful costume made of balloons, a 32-year-old hair stylist, who calls himself Molly, said he was proud to participate the event.
    "I am proud to be gay, there is nothing to hide, so I came to participate today since I have the time," he said.
    His group, Taiwan Gay Open 4, will be hosting the fourth tennis tournament for gay people.
    Another man said he was taking part to show his true identity.
    "I just want to be myself, and through participating this event, I want to show that I am proud to be gay," said 27 year-old Hsiou Luo Hseuh Chih.
    Event organizer Lai Cheng-che said although Taiwanese society seems respectful, discrimination still exists.
    "I think Taiwanese society is basically liberal, but discrimination has only been repackaged. We hear people say 'respect gays' but they won't let us teach people about what is gay. How is this respect? For example when we say 'respect the aboriginal people', don't we have to learn about their culture? Discrimination has been repackaged nicely, but it still exists among the general Taiwanese society," he said.
    He was referring to events earlier this year, when a gender equality curriculum, which included topics on gay rights and sexual orientation for elementary and junior high school students, was put on hold, following concerns from parents and Christian groups.
    Gay rights issues have risen to the fore of the political agenda 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 many in the gay community say too little has been done.
    Former president Chen Shui-bian proposed the legalization of gay marriage and adoption in 2003, but there have been no changes in the legal situation of gay individuals and same-sex marriage remains illegal.
    Taiwan's gay pride parade started in 2003, with around 500 participants.
    Organisers estimate 50,000 people took part in this year's parade, which makes it one of the largest of its kind in Asia.

    LGBT
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