Gay rights groups in Taiwan have jointly denounced a recent attack on a gay and lesbian bookstore in Taipei, calling the anonymous violence a serious setback to their efforts to eliminate homophobia.
The condemnation, initiated by the gay rights group Hotline (
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
"It seemed a minor case of a small gay and lesbian bookstore being attacked with a brick and the mere breaking of a window seems like no big loss at all. But, if the attack on Gin Gin's was made because it's a gay and lesbian bookstore, then that sends a strong message of hatred against homosexuality," the groups said in a written statement.
"If the attack with a brick is tolerated today, we might see attacks with petrol bombs in the future," the groups noted. "What happened to Gin Gin's may not be unique. We need to denounce such violence and make sure it will never happen again."
Lai Jeng-jeh (
He said it is not known yet whether the attack was a deliberate homophobic act, but said he felt saddened and frustrated about the incident, which is now the subject of a police investigation.
Since no loss of property was reported following the incident, Lai said it was very unlikely to be a case of burglary. He said he had improved the store's security since the incident but would continue to run the store as normal. The store sells books written by, for, and about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.
Gin Gin's, which opened in January 1999, is one of only a few locations in Taiwan committed to providing a discrimination-free environment for gays and lesbians. relations with neighbors.
Lai has developed a "Rainbow Community" -- which is friendly to homosexuals -- in the Kungkuan district with local businesses, who display rainbow stickers.
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