Last Saturday, the eighth Taiwan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride parade took place in downtown Taipei. I was touched by the enthusiasm of the more than 30,000 homosexuals and their friends marching in the rain. I also saw my students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at National Tsing Hua University holding banners with so much joy on their young faces. As their teacher, I was truly happy for them. When compared with the crowd of 500 who covered their faces at the first parade eight years ago, the event this year was real evidence of Taiwan’s democratic development.
In recent decades, the protection of human rights for homosexuals has gradually become a focus of attention in the US and other democratic nations in the West. Although there is still much controversy, the overall trend is toward recognizing and approving gay rights. Since Western democracies face numerous social problems, why do they still pay so much attention to this particular issue?
Simply put, the issue of gay rights does not only affect the rights of gay people, it involves the development of the entire democratic system. One could even say that a democratic society that fails to protect gay rights is not a mature democracy. There are at least two reasons to support this statement.
First, democracy is not only about freedom of expression or the transition of government power. Above all, it is a way of living, and a concept. In other words a lifestyle choice, and changing concepts are the most important element of democracy. Looking back at the history of civilization, shifts in ideas have almost always predated any systemic adjustment. It is in this sense that fundamental concepts such as tolerance of and respect for the rights of minorities make up the foundation of the democratic system. Any democracy in which these basic ideals fail to be realized is immature and risks regressing.
As a minority group in Taiwan, the question of whether homosexuals are accepted and respected by mainstream society is a direct test of the depth and consolidation of democracy in that society. If those politically disadvantaged people who constantly pursue democracy refuse to protect the rights of homosexuals, they are selfish hypocrites simply fighting for their own democratic rights, and not for the democratization of society as a whole.
A key component of democratic development lies in eliminating specious views of certain ideas. Examples of such views are the idea that democracy will lead to chaos, or that people with a lower educational or cultural background are unable to exercise their democratic rights. Such concepts are the biggest enemy of democracy.
The issue of gay rights is plagued by more specious views than many other issues. For example, some claim that homosexuality is an obstacle to human civilization. Homosexuality was very common during the ancient Greek era, but was suppressed in the Middle Ages, so which era was more civilized?
Others claim that the existence of homosexuals could endanger human reproduction. However, the gay movement did not rise until about six decades ago. During this period, which country has suffered a decrease in birth rates due to the gay movement? The world population has already surpassed the 6 billion mark. One reason to support the gay movement is that we need to oppose such wrong thinking and must not let such concepts become the basis for policymaking.
This is precisely the reason why increasing numbers of heterosexual groups and individuals in the West support the gay community. They are aware that the question of whether gay rights can be fully protected has implications for democracy in general. That means the issue affects everyone, including heterosexual people and their rights. Taiwan must not avoid the issue of gay rights if it wants to further consolidate its democracy.
Wang Dan is a visiting assistant professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at National Tsing Hua University.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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