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
WAITING GAME: The US has so far only offered a ‘best rate tariff,’ which officials assume is about 15 percent, the same as Japan, a person familiar with the matter said Taiwan and the US have completed “technical consultations” regarding tariffs and a finalized rate is expected to be released soon, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told a news conference yesterday, as a 90-day pause on US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs is set to expire today. The two countries have reached a “certain degree of consensus” on issues such as tariffs, nontariff trade barriers, trade facilitation, supply chain resilience and economic security, Lee said. They also discussed opportunities for cooperation, investment and procurement, she said. A joint statement is still being negotiated and would be released once the US government has made
NEW GEAR: On top of the new Tien Kung IV air defense missiles, the military is expected to place orders for a new combat vehicle next year for delivery in 2028 Mass production of Tien Kung IV (Sky Bow IV) missiles is expected to start next year, with plans to order 122 pods, the Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) latest list of regulated military material showed. The document said that the armed forces would obtain 46 pods of the air defense missiles next year and 76 pods the year after that. The Tien Kung IV is designed to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles to an altitude of 70km, compared with the 60km maximum altitude achieved by the Missile Segment Enhancement variant of PAC-3 systems. A defense source said yesterday that the number of
Taiwanese exports to the US are to be subject to a 20 percent tariff starting on Thursday next week, according to an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump yesterday. The 20 percent levy was the same as the tariffs imposed on Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh by Trump. It was higher than the tariffs imposed on Japan, South Korea and the EU (15 percent), as well as those on the Philippines (19 percent). A Taiwan official with knowledge of the matter said it is a "phased" tariff rate, and negotiations would continue. "Once negotiations conclude, Taiwan will obtain a better
FLOOD RECOVERY: “Post-Typhoon Danas reconstruction special act” is expected to be approved on Thursday, the premier said, adding the flood control in affected areas would be prioritized About 200cm of rainfall fell in parts of southern Taiwan from Monday last week to 9am yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Kaohsiung’s Taoyuan District (桃源) saw total rainfall of 2,205mm, while Pingtung County’s Sandimen Township (三地門) had 2,060.5mm and Tainan’s Nanhua District (南化) 1,833mm, according to CWA data. Meanwhile, Alishan (阿里山) in Chiayi County saw 1,688mm of accumulated rain and Yunlin County’s Caoling (草嶺) had 1,025mm. The Pingtung County Government said that 831 local residents have been pre-emptively evacuated from mountainous areas. A total of 576 are staying with relatives in low-lying areas, while the other 255 are in shelters. CWA forecaster
RSS