The annual Taiwan Gay Pride Parade took place in Taipei yesterday afternoon, with the event centering on the theme of “no age limits,” with event organizers saying that members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and their supporters were invited to attend the event and explore ways in which society’s attitudes toward age and gender prevent people from freely expressing themselves.
People who contravene society’s “norms” are often seen as irresponsible and ostracized, the organizers said, adding that teenagers and older people often suffer the worst of this treatment, as society is more rigid in its expectations of these age groups.
Many participants at the parade, now in its 13th year, wore colorful costumes and waved rainbow flags or handmade signs calling for marriage equality.
Photo: AFP
Organizers said nearly 80,000 people attended the event.
However, the organizer’s call for “no age limits” sparked concerns over its interpretaion.
Lee Tsung-hua (李宗華) of the Warm Breeze Caring Association, a Taichung-based group advocating child welfare, said the association has always supported the LGBT community, but it could not disagree more with calls for young people to be liberated of age restrictions placed on their behavior.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Yeh Chun-hsing (葉春幸), a legislative candidate of the Faith and Hope League, also opposed the group’s call for “no age limit,” saying that repeated calls to lower the legal age for sexual consent on the grounds of sexual autonomy would only lead to an increase in social problems such as abortions and sexual assault.
Earlier in the day, Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) posted a video on Facebook, saying she supported marriage equality, and that all are equal before love.
Later, in response to media queries about the issue of regulations recognizing unions between same-sex couples, Tsai said it is an issue that society must confront, adding that as there are supporters and opponents, she hopes everyone can view the matter rationally.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokesperson Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) said KMT presidential candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) agreed with the broad direction of the LGBT activists’ stance on equal opportunities for marriage rights, but added that there should be more discussion over the issue due to the diverse range of opinions held in society.
A consensus must emerge among the public before matters can proceed toward legal amendments, Lin said.
People First Party Chairperson James Soong (宋楚瑜) said via party spokesperson Chen Yi-chieh (陳怡潔) that the PFP favors respect and acceptance on the issue of gay rights.
Additional reporting by Su Fang-ho and Chen Yen-ting
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he
UNPRECEDENTED: In addition to the approved recall motions, cases such as Ma Wen-chun’s in Nantou are still under review, while others lack enough signatures The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced yesterday that a recall vote would take place on July 26, after it approved the first batch of recall motions targeting 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安). Taiwan is in the midst of an unprecedented wave of mass recall campaigns, following a civil society push that echoed a call made by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) in January to initiate signature drives aimed at unseating KMT legislators. Under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法), Taiwanese can initiate a recall of district-elected lawmakers by collecting
RSS