TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — About 130,000 people marched through Taipei on Saturday for Taiwan Pride Parade, embracing the theme ”Beyond Links: More than Clicks” to promote empathy and inclusiveness.
Hosted by Taiwan Rainbow Civil Action Association, the parade opened with over 110 booths outside Taipei City Hall, per CNA. Despite rain, crowds turned out in force, filling Xinyi District with color and music alongside games and performances.
Taiwan Equality Campaign Chair Tai Yu-hsun (戴佑勳) said the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House this year had reignited global opposition to inclusion, per UDN. He warned that this anti-inclusion sentiment, amplified by social media, is influencing public policy and Taiwan’s gender equality efforts.
Tai described this year’s theme as a metaphor for the algorithm-driven age, where online echo chambers and memes shape public discourse. He called on the public to move beyond “clicks and likes,” urging people to bridge divisions through human connection.
Commenting on Hong Kong’s rejection of a same-sex partnership bill, Tai said the decision was disappointing but familiar. Taiwan, he noted, also faced setbacks before legalizing same-sex marriage six years ago, noting that progress on human rights often advances “three steps forward, two steps back.”
On transgender rights, parade spokesperson Hsiao Ching (小鯨) criticized Taiwan’s requirement that individuals undergo sex reassignment surgery before changing gender markers on IDs. He said gender transition should be recognized as a multifaceted process, arguing that hormone therapy and other steps also affirm identity.
In a Facebook post, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) wished participants well and urged people to support those around them through action, per Liberty Times. “We hope equality is not only written in law but also becomes a shared value embraced in everyday life,” he said.
The event featured 26 floats, performances by singer Yu Pei-jen (余佩真) and rock band Aoi. Despite the rain, organizers said the turnout reflected growing regional solidarity and Taiwan’s enduring role as a beacon for LGBTQ rights in Asia.
