More than 30,000 gays and lesbians and their supporters braved windy and drizzly conditions to take part in Taiwan’s eighth annual gay pride parade in Taipei City Oct. 31.
Under the theme of “Out and Vote,” the participants, many donning colorful costumes, marched for over a kilometer to the plaza in front of the Presidential Office waving rainbow placards and banners in support of their cause.
Adding to the festive atmosphere was an end-of-parade concert performed by pop star A-mei, acting as the event’s “rainbow ambassador” for the second time since 2007.
The gay rights advocacy group Taiwan LGBT Pride Community said the parade has grown in size from 500 participants in 2002 to become the largest event of its kind in Asia.
Nevertheless, the group said, there has been no corresponding progress in gay and lesbian rights legislation during this period, regardless of which party has been in power.
It said the theme of this year’s parade was selected in the hopes of raising gay rights awareness ahead of the upcoming special municipality elections, and to urge the government to implement concrete measures to protect the rights and interests of this minority group. (SB)