CARNAL NATION

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, hosted its first gay pride parade seven years ago. In 2003, that inaugural parade drew 500 participants. In 2006, there were 3000, then 5000 in 2007, and 18,000 last year. This year, the reported numbers were close to 25,000.  People from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Europe, and the U.S. came together in Taipei to celebrate and show their support to further gay rights. Compared to San Francisco’s Pride parade with attendees numbering over one million, these numbers may seem small, but it is vital to note their importance. Ideally (and roughly estimated) if the number of participants at the Pride parade in Taipei continues to grow like this over the next forty years, the parade will be about the same size as San Francisco’s on its fortieth anniversary. Taiwan is said to have the most vibrant gay community in Asia, and its parade is the largest among the Chinese-speaking communities.

According to Impunity Watch Asia, “Taiwan is known as one of the most tolerant Asian countries regarding homosexuality.” This may be the case; however, “marchers [still] shouted the slogan ‘Love Out Loud’ and specifically asked for equal rights and recognition of same sex marriages.” The AFP states that, “Tung Chu-chu, the chief organizer of the march, said, ‘We urge the government to better protect gay human rights including same-sex unions so we can have the same legal rights as a heterosexual couple.” The Taipei Times points out that, “…parade organizers hoped to encourage members of the public to love and not discriminate against their lesbian, gay, transgender, transsexual or transvestite relatives, colleagues and neighbors.”

Fish Leong (pictured right), known as the "Queen of Love Songs," was named a "Rainbow Ambassador" for the event and headlined the Pride concert that followed the parade. Twenty percent of the personal donations received during the entire Pride event will be donated to help rebuild the tribal villages devastated by Typhoon Morakot, which slammed into Taiwan on August 8. Now that's something to be proud of.