200,000-strong LGBT march

The march is at its 17th edition. In 2003 only a few hundred took part; last year there were 130,000 participants. Representatives of other countries were also present. Taiwan is a safe place for the LGBT community. Opposition to Tsai Ing-wen, who supported same-sex marriage law, is growing.

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Around 200,000 people took part in Saturday’s pride parade for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBT) in central Taipei, near the Presidential Palace.

Participation in the march, which is at its 17th edition, was up. In the first edition in 2003, only a few hundred took part; last year there were 130,000 people.

Representatives of other countries were present, including the United States, Australia, the European Union, Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Philippines.

According to many participants, Taiwan is a safe place for the LGBT community. A few months ago, a law was adopted legalising same-sex marriage.

However, the law excludes coupes if at least one partner is from a country where such unions are not legal.

Taiwan was the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriages. According to Interior Ministry data, a total of 2,155 same-sex marriages were registered in Taiwan as of the end of September, 1,461 between women and 694 between men.

The law, which is the result of a Constitutional Court ruling, has however met with strong opposition in Taiwanese society.

Many opponents have pledged to punish President Tsai Ing-wen, who supported the law, in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in January.

• taiwan
• same-sex marriage
• law
• taipei
• pride parade
• lgbt
• tsai ing-wen
• election