Thousands of people participated in a "Rainbow Power" parade in Taipei yesterday to show their support for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual (GLBT) communities.
The parade took a carnival-like mood with marchers waving rainbow flags, colorful balloons and signs. Some were dressed in flamboyant period costumes while others only wore swim trunks despite the cool weather.
Organized by members of Taiwan GLBT communities and supported by dozens of other groups, yesterday's parade was the fifth annual GLBT parade in the country.
PHOTO: AFP
"Showing off the power of the GLBT communities and their supporters is the theme of this year's parade," an event spokesman wished to be known as Goffy (
In addition to participants mobilized by various groups, Goffy estimated a 70 percent volunteer participation, "that's the power -- and with the power, we'd like to demand equal rights for the GLBT communities," he said.
A participant who wished to be known as James said gays still don't have equal rights.
"For example, gay partners cannot become legally married and thus are excluded from all the legal rights of a married couple," he said.
"It's not fair that we've done all the duties required [of citizens] but do not enjoy all the rights," A-wei (
The Cabinet in 2003 drafted a controversial bill to legalize same-sex marriages and recognize the rights of homosexual couples to adopt children, the first country in Asia to do so.
However, the law has yet to be passed and some gay groups have criticized the bill as a ploy to woo gay voters.
A-wei is also a member of the Tong-Kwang Light House Presbyterian Church, a church founded 11 years ago by members of the GLBT communities.
"God loves people -- that means all people," whether he or she is gay or straight, he said, explaining the founding principle of the church.
Before the parade departed from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
The parade reached its climax when all the demonstrators, divided into six groups, held up colored papers to compose the six-colored rainbow flag on Zhongxiao E Rd.
Onlookers packed the sidewalks and some waved small rainbow flags at participants as they marched by.
Pop singer A-mei (
The singer, who performed some of her hit songs to the cheering crowd, endeared herself to the gay audience when she released a music video depicting a gay wedding scene several years ago.
Organizers estimated that 15,000 people participated in the parade, while a police source estimated around 10,000.
Additional reporting by AFP
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
Chinese embassy staffers attempted to interrupt an award ceremony of an international tea competition in France when the organizer introduced Taiwan and displayed the Republic of China flag, a Taiwanese tea farmer said in an interview published today. Hsieh Chung-lin (謝忠霖), chief executive of Juxin Tea Factory from Taichung's Lishan (梨山) area, on Dec. 2 attended the Teas of the World International Contest held at the Peruvian embassy in Paris. Hsieh was awarded a special prize for his Huagang Snow Source Tea by the nonprofit Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products (AVPA). During the ceremony, two Chinese embassy staffers in attendance
RSS