Coronavirus-free Taiwan celebrates Pride with 130,000 crowd
The Taiwan LGBT Pride marched through the streets of Taipei on Saturday (31 October) – marking its 18th year.
It’s the biggest Pride to be held since the coronavirus pandemic forced hundreds of major LGBT+ events to cancel around the world.
The organizers estimated 130,000 showed up – despite rules which kept out foreign visitors.
They took their theme this year from a Chinese proverb. It translates as ‘to support and help others fulfill their cherished dreams’ but also means ‘adulthood beauty’ – a nod to the event’s age.
Pride spokesperson Shao Li-yi said the theme embraced the many kinds of body-positive beauty. Society should embrace them all, whether short, tall, overweight, slim, masuline or feminine, Shao said.
The theme also showcased a country which had reached greater maturity over LGBT+ issues over the last two decades.
Taiwan legalized same-sex marraige in 2018. However, the battle for full equality goes on. Marchers demanded same-sex couples be allowed to adopt and access assisted reproduction.
At the moment, LGBT+ couples can only adopt when one of the partners is biologically the parent of the child.
Hsiao Ching, one of the organizers, said: ‘The Taiwan LGBT Pride parade is not only a carnival. Although same-sex marriage was legalized in 2018, there are still many issues concerning equal rights of LGBT communities that need to be addressed.
‘If Taiwan prides itself on accepting diversity, nobody should feel sorry for being the person they are, and people should have the right to be comfortable in their own skin, no matter if they are at home or at work.’
Rainbow masks and hugs in COVID-free Taipei
Crowds gathered from the morning to visit a Rainbow Market of 100 LGBT+ supporting businesses and organizations. The parade then left from Taipei City Hall Plaza at 2pm.
It had a festive atmosphere with stunning outfits, flags and banners.
And while many participants wore rainbow flag masks, they also felt they could embrace and march side-by-side.
Taiwan has managed a hugely-succesful coronavrius control program. As a result, it has recorded just 554 COVID-19 infections and only seven deaths. And the majority of cases came from abroad. The island nation is now effectively COVID-free.
[Syndicated Content]
Published on GayStarNews Read the original article
Author: Tris Reid-Smith