An estimated 150,000 people filled Taipei’s streets for Taiwan Pride on Saturday 31 October, celebrating rainbow visibility while demanding answers over a police raid on a gay bar earlier this month.
The 24th Taiwan LGBT+ Pride parade, themed “Our Voices, Our Journey”, drew locals and international visitors from Taipei City Hall Plaza, with more than 180 groups registered.
Beneath the colour and celebration was a clear message: legal equality still has to be matched by fair treatment in daily life.
Equality On Paper Isn’t Enough
Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019, the first place in Asia to do so.
But Tai Yu-hsun, chairperson of organiser Taiwan Rainbow Civil Action Association, told Taiwan’s Central News Agency that marriage rights had not ended the prejudice LGBTQ+ people still face. He urged people to listen and look beyond labels.
A Raid That Reopened Old Wounds
The parade came weeks after police searched Commander D, a gay bar in Taipei’s Wanhua District, on 3 October.
Reuters reported that 51 people were taken in for questioning and the owner was arrested over alleged public-indecency offences. No findings of guilt have been made.
Tai said the raid revived memories of state pressure on LGBTQ+ spaces and would spur people to speak out.
Mayor Meets Protest At Pride
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an faced protests when he attended Saturday’s event and repeated his apology to those affected, Reuters reported.
The city government has apologised and disciplined staff, but Tai is calling for a transparent investigation and binding policing guidelines. The city says prosecutors are investigating and new guidelines will be drawn up with community input.
Beyond Marriage Equality
Tai also called for stronger action against HIV stigma, saying fear and prejudice discourage testing, and for long-term care services ready to support people ageing with HIV.
For rainbow communities here in Aotearoa, Taipei’s march is a timely regional reminder that Pride is still both a party and a protest.
