Last week, President Chen Shui-bian (
In early 1996, some masked representatives from a homosexual alliance gathered in front of the Taipei City Hall to protest against then Taipei Mayor Chen's failure to keep his promises to homosexuals regarding the city's New Park (today's 228 Park) -- a famous gay hangout. Seven years later, more than 1,000 homosexuals participated in a gay parade without masks. Although they marched only along a 1.5km stretch from the 228 Park to Hsimenting, they have endured great hardships to get this far. The 228 Park has finally turned from a land of darkness -- as portrayed in Taiwanese novelist Kenneth Pai's (白先勇) 1983 gay classic Crystal Boys (孽子) -- into a playground where all homosexuals can joyfully express themselves.
The truth is: homosexuality is not scary. What is scary is society's prevalent homophobia that forces homosexuals to deny it or feel disgusted with themselves. Still, despite the extremely unfavorable environment, gays and lesbians have tried to find a way out, and have bravely demonstrated their strength to society over the past few years. Homosexuals have formed groups, established magazines and radio shows, opened stores and done research, and now hold an annual festival -- the Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Movement, Taipei (
The death of Cantonese superstar Leslie Cheung (張國榮), who was brave enough to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality, was grieved by not only homosexuals but also heterosexuals. As more and more homosexuals come out of the closet, heterosexuals have gradually learnt how to understand, respect and interact with them. Some are able to view the gay parade as an ordinary event. However, such superficial acceptance will be tested in the future. The key point lies in whether heterosexuals can treat their relatives and friends the same way if they find out they are homosexual. In fact, for those homosexuals who courageously choose not to wear a mask in the gay parade, perhaps the most difficult part was to come out to their parents.
Ironically, some parents are able to accept their homosexual children out of their love for them. But they are still unable to accept homosexuality deep down. Is this because most homosexuals cannot have a son to carry on the family name? If that is the case, should those who prefer not to get married and those who do not or cannot give birth also be condemned?
Heterosexual women are one of the groups that should show acceptance to homosexuals, since heterosexual hegemony goes hand in hand with sexual discrimination. The stereotypical image of a gay man is that of a sissy. Society cannot accept a man who displays feminine qualities or a man who does not take a dominant position in an intimate relationship. Such ideas, maintaining that good men should not learn from women, are basically discrimination against women. Straight men should also accept homosexuals because homophobia deters emotional expression and non-competitive intimate communication among men. While society is full of male violence and heterosexual conflicts, homosexuals do not initiate attacks on heterosexuals. The heterosexuals who talk, interact and make friends with homosexuals are in fact brave people who dare to face their own homophobia.
The short journey from the 228 Park to Hsimenting demonstrated the happiness of the gay movement in Taiwan despite the difficulties. Next year, let's all get onto Ketagalan Boulevard to share our sameness and celebrate our differences.
Bih Herng-dar is an associate professor in the Graduate School of Building and Planning at National Taiwan university and a member of the Taipei Society.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG AND JENNIE SHIH
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