The London-based LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community choir Pink Singers and the Taiwan-based group G-Major held a mini-concert in Taipei yesterday to promote an upcoming festival featuring gay choirs from around the world.
The event, co-organized by the British Office in Taipei and the British Council, was scheduled to coincide with the opening of the three-day “Hand in Hand Asian LGBT Choral Festival,” the first such festival to take place in Taiwan.
“The British government supports equality for all. Freedom from discrimination is a basic human right, is central to our values and is protected through our laws,” UK Representative to Taiwan Chris Wood said.
“In line with our values, we are proud to promote equality and human rights around the world, including the rights of minority groups that have historically not received equal treatment,” he said.
Wood’s remarks came before the two choirs staged the mini-concert, which began with a performance by the Pink Singers, comprised of male and female singers, and followed by a show given by the all-male G-Major.
The two groups then performed two numbers together, ending the show with the song Hand in Hand.
Pink Singers, which was established in 1983 and has more than 80 singers on its roster, and G-Major are set to be among the groups performing at Sunday’s concert in Taipei as part of the choral festival, whose participants are also to take part in the Taipei Pride Parade, which is scheduled to start at 1pm today.
Officials and staff from the British Office and the European Economic and Trade Office are also to join the parade to support equality for all and advocate LGBT rights.
Several events related to the LGBT community were held this week, including the largest LGBT conference in Asia, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Taipei.
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