Taipei hosts Taiwan Pride parade with 150,000 participants

An estimated 150,000 people gathered in Taipei on Saturday for Taiwan’s annual Pride parade, marking one of the largest celebrations of inclusivity in Asia. Participants marched through the streets with rainbow flags and banners to support the LGBTQ+ community.

Taiwan was the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019. The event follows recent tensions within the community after a police raid at a Taipei gay bar earlier this month, where 51 patrons were detained on suspected breaches of public decency rules. While Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an apologized and some officers were disciplined following the incident, organizers used the parade to call for continued efforts to combat stigma and promote gender inclusivity.