A group advocating LGBTQ+ and women’s rights in Taiwan has posted on its Web site an interactive voting guide highlighting candidates in the country’s January presidential and legislative elections who support the group’s causes.
The Taiwan Equality Campaign, which was launched in 2016 by five organizations promoting women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, have compiled the guide, known as “Pride Watch,” the group told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
Thirteen legislative candidates from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Social Democratic Party, the New Power Party and Taiwan People’s Party have pledged to push for more inclusive policies if elected.
Photo: CNA
The Web site would continue to update new LGBTQ-friendly candidates if more of them register with the platform and fill in the questionnaire to demonstrate their pledge, said Joyce Teng (鄧筑媛), the group’s executive director.
The guide also features the geographical distribution of the complying legislative candidates, meaning people can now search for candidates running in their own district in the upcoming elections.
The constituents would also be fully informed of candidates’ comments, either for or against LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, as the group promotes more political awareness, action and participation among voters and people, Teng said.
Once the Central Election Commission releases the party lists for legislators-at-large on Jan. 2, the platform would also invite those candidates to fill out the questionnaires and pledge to support more LGBTQ+ and women-friendly policies.
As for the presidential candidates, the platform urged all the major candidates to showcase their LGBTQ+ and women’s policies, which would be compiled in the guide, Teng said.
The guide has been updated several times since it was launched in 2018, according to the Web site.
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