Crowds throng Taipei as Taiwan celebrates East Asia’s largest Pride march
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The streets of central Taipei were packed for the annual parade, the 21st since it began.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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TAIPEI - About 180,000 people marched through Taipei on Saturday in a riotous and noisy celebration of LGBTQ+ equality and diversity at East Asia’s largest Pride march, with Vice-President William Lai Ching-te becoming the most senior government leader ever to attend.
The event took place ahead of Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary elections in January, and Mr Lai, leading opinion polls to be elected president, joined the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) delegation, seeking to cement its position as a defender of liberal values.
Mr Lai, speaking to reporters before joining the march around halfway through, thanked those who had worked to support equality and the legalising of same-sex marriage in 2019,
“On this road, the DPP has always been together with everyone,” he said, as scantily clad male dancers passed behind him on the back of a truck.
“Equal marriage is not the end – it’s the starting point for diversity. I will stand steadfast on this path.”
About 150,000 people marched through Taipei on Saturday.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Mr Lai then joined the DPP delegation, marching behind a banner reading “Democracy Supports Gays” as supporters yelled out “Hello Mr President”.
None of the other three presidential candidates attended, although the youth wing of the main opposition party Kuomintang did, with its members shouting that their party also supported equality as they passed by Mr Lai.
The streets of central Taipei were packed for the annual parade – the 21st since it began – and featured go-go dancers and drag queens.
Organisers put the number of attendees at around 176,000, including many foreigners.
“Under the umbrella of Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, we learn to accept everyone’s characteristics and respect everyone’s differences,” Ms Tsai wrote in a Facebook message.
Taiwan’s openness on LGBTQ+ issues stands in marked contrast with its giant neighbour China, which regards the self-governing Taiwan as its territory to be reunified with it. Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims.
While same-sex relations are not illegal in China, same-sex marriage is, and the government has been cracking down on activists and depictions of LGBTQ+ people in the media. REUTERS
