Activists hail High Court ruling

DPP Legislator Lin Shu-fen, second right, holds a press conference yesterday with Sister Radio chairwoman and founder Wang Li-ping, third left, Wang Ping, secretary general of the Gender/Sexuality Rights Association in Taiwan, second left, and Chen Yi-chien, a professor at Taipei's Shih Hsin University, left. The group hailed the Taiwan High Court's ruling in favor of the radio station. PHOTO: LUO PEI-TEH, TAIPEI TIMES

Gay groups yesterday hailed a Taiwan High Court decision, which ruled in the favor of a radio station that was fined by the Government Information Office (GIO) for airing a program involving homosexual issues.

The radio station and gay rights advocates said the verdict showed a strong defense of freedom of speech and expression.

"This is not only a victory for the Sister Radio Station [FM105.7], but also a big victory for free speech in Taiwan," Sister Radio chairwoman and founder Wang Li-ping (王麗萍) said yesterday. "I think the verdict is a win-win situation for all of the people in the country."

Last June, the station, the nation's sole female-oriented broadcast media network, which reaches audiences in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan counties, was fined by the GIO for violating programming content decency regulations during its Feb. 14 airing of the radio program Lez Radio (拉子三缺一).

The program in question talked about the use of condoms in lesbian sex, with a two-minute section in which that night's host, "Wei Wei," imitated sexual noises made by actresses in foreign and local movies.

The GIO accused the radio station of having "adversely affected good social customs" with its imitation of sexual noises, which violated the decency provision in the Cable Radio and Television Law (廣播電視法). The station was fined NT$9,000.

Vowing fight against what the station called "a blow against progressive thinking in Taiwan," the network appealed the fine and won the case yesterday.

Wang excitement during a press conference held yesterday to announce the court victory, and pledged to bring her programming -- which focuses on feminist and sexual identity issues -- to a broader audience.

"In addition to holding a party in July to celebrate the victory of the recognition of diverse voices in the country, we are planning to expand the broadcasting area and bring our programs to the audience in Taipei," said Wang, a former Democratic Progressive Party legislator and women's rights activist.

Referring the radio show that prompted the fine, host Wei Wei said it was meant to help debunk the myth that lesbian sex must be silent.

Because sex is still a taboo subject in Taiwan, many misconceptions exist about homosexual lovemaking, even among homosexuals, she explained.

Wang Ping (王蘋), secretary general of the Gender/Sexuality Rights Association in Taiwan, praised Sister Radio for encouraging discussion about sexual issues, clearing up misconceptions and providing facts.

"The government should not attack voices which stand up for minority groups and discuss diverse issues. We are glad that the High Court defended freedom of speech, and we called on the GIO to support us in the future," she said.