LGBT rights in Taiwan
Encyclopedia
The Republic of China
(Taiwan) is one of Asia's most progressive countries as far as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights are concerned, not only since the government introduced same-sex marriage
in 2003 (which stalled without passage), the first country in Asia to do so. The ROC is also described as the most liberal after approximately 25,000 attended the Taiwan Pride
parade in 2009, making it the largest LGBT
event in Asia.
government (Executive Yuan
) proposed legislation granting marriages and the right to adopt to same-sex couples under the Human Rights Basic Law; however it faced opposition among cabinet members and legislators
and has been stalled since, and thus not voted on. Currently the Republic of China does not have any form of same-sex unions. Should the law pass, the Republic of China would be the first country in Asia
to permit same-sex marriage.
, passed legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation at work. Discrimination against sexual orientation in education has been banned since 2003 through the Gender Equity Education Act
. In March 2010, the Taiwanese Ministry of Education announced that, starting from 2011, school textbooks would include topics on LGBT human rights and non-discrimination. According to the Ministry, the reform seeks to "root out discrimination", since "students should be able to grow up happily in an environment of tolerance and respect"
, who introduced gay characters in his novels, the most famous being Crystal Boys
. More recently, some gay TV series and movies have been produced and have gained great attention among gay communities in both Taiwan and China. Examples include the TV series Crystal Boys, adapted from Pai Hsien-yung's novel by the same title, and the movie Formula 17
.
On 1 November 2003, Taiwan Pride
, the first gay pride parade in the Chinese-speaking world, was held in Taipei
, with over 1,000 people attending. It has taken place annually since then, but still, many participants wear mask
s to hide their identity because homosexuality remains a social taboo
in Taiwan. However, the 2010 parade attracted 30,000 attendees and increasing media and political attention, highlighting the growing rate of acceptance in Taiwan. Since 2010, there has also been a pride parade in Kaohsiung
, which attracted over 2,000 people.
In the years 2004 to 2005, the Taiwanese director Ang Lee
directed the gay Western film Brokeback Mountain
, receiving high critical acclaim and academy awards.
"Spider Lilies
" a lesbian film directed by Zero Chou
, was screened at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival
. It won the Teddy Award
for best gay feature film.
positive. These arrests received severe condemnation from the local gay community. This event is now known as the "HOMEPA" (Home Party) by the Taiwanese gay community.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan) is one of Asia's most progressive countries as far as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights are concerned, not only since the government introduced same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
in 2003 (which stalled without passage), the first country in Asia to do so. The ROC is also described as the most liberal after approximately 25,000 attended the Taiwan Pride
Taiwan Pride
Taiwan Pride is the annual gay pride parade in Taiwan. The parade was first held in 2003. Although joined by groups from all over the country, the primary location has always been the city of Taipei...
parade in 2009, making it the largest LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
event in Asia.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Adult, private, non-commercial and consensual same-sex sexual activity is legal in Taiwan.Constitutional rights
The Constitution does not expressly mention sexual orientation or gender identity.Recognition of same-sex relationships
At the end of October 2003, the executive branch of the Republic of ChinaRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government (Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
) proposed legislation granting marriages and the right to adopt to same-sex couples under the Human Rights Basic Law; however it faced opposition among cabinet members and legislators
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
and has been stalled since, and thus not voted on. Currently the Republic of China does not have any form of same-sex unions. Should the law pass, the Republic of China would be the first country in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
to permit same-sex marriage.
Discrimination protections
In 2007, the Republic of China legislature, the Legislative YuanLegislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
, passed legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation at work. Discrimination against sexual orientation in education has been banned since 2003 through the Gender Equity Education Act
Gender Equity Education Act (Taiwan)
Gender Equity Education Act of Republic of China was announced on 2004 June. The General Provisions states the purposes of the act: "to promote substantive gender equality, eliminate gender discrimination, uphold human dignity, and improve and establish education resources and environment of...
. In March 2010, the Taiwanese Ministry of Education announced that, starting from 2011, school textbooks would include topics on LGBT human rights and non-discrimination. According to the Ministry, the reform seeks to "root out discrimination", since "students should be able to grow up happily in an environment of tolerance and respect"
LGBT life in Taiwan
In the 1970s, some novels regarding homosexuality were published. One of the most prominent writers is Pai Hsien-yungPai Hsien-yung
Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai , born July 11, 1937) is a writer who has been described as a "melancholy pioneer." He was born in Guilin, Guangxi, China at the cusp of both the Second Sino-Japanese War and subsequent Chinese Civil War...
, who introduced gay characters in his novels, the most famous being Crystal Boys
Crystal Boys
Crystal Boys is a novel written by author Pai Hsien-yung and first published in 1983 in Taiwan. In 1988, this novel went into circulation in China; its French and English translations were published in 1985 and 1989...
. More recently, some gay TV series and movies have been produced and have gained great attention among gay communities in both Taiwan and China. Examples include the TV series Crystal Boys, adapted from Pai Hsien-yung's novel by the same title, and the movie Formula 17
Formula 17
Formula 17 is a 2004 film which was directed by Chen Yin-jung . It stars Tony Yang , Duncan , King Chin , Dada Ji , Jimmy Yang , and Jason Chang . It is a gay romantic comedy film about Chou T'ien-Tsai, a romantic Taiwanese male who takes a trip to visit an online boyfriend in person for the first...
.
On 1 November 2003, Taiwan Pride
Taiwan Pride
Taiwan Pride is the annual gay pride parade in Taiwan. The parade was first held in 2003. Although joined by groups from all over the country, the primary location has always been the city of Taipei...
, the first gay pride parade in the Chinese-speaking world, was held in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, with over 1,000 people attending. It has taken place annually since then, but still, many participants wear mask
Mask
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes...
s to hide their identity because homosexuality remains a social taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
in Taiwan. However, the 2010 parade attracted 30,000 attendees and increasing media and political attention, highlighting the growing rate of acceptance in Taiwan. Since 2010, there has also been a pride parade in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, which attracted over 2,000 people.
In the years 2004 to 2005, the Taiwanese director Ang Lee
Ang Lee
Ang Lee is a Taiwanese film director. Lee has directed a diverse set of films such as Eat Drink Man Woman , Sense and Sensibility , Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , Hulk , and Brokeback Mountain , for which he won an Academy...
directed the gay Western film Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a film adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx with the screenplay written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry...
, receiving high critical acclaim and academy awards.
"Spider Lilies
Spider Lilies (film)
Spider Lilies is a 2007 Taiwanese lesbian drama film. It is the second feature-length film by director Zero Chou, and stars Rainie Yang and Isabella Leong in the lead roles. Spider Lilies was screened at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Teddy Award for best feature film...
" a lesbian film directed by Zero Chou
Zero Chou
-Life:Chou was born in Keelung, Taiwan in 1969. She earned a B.A. in Philosophy from National Chengchi University in 1992. She worked as a journalist before becoming an indie film director....
, was screened at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
. It won the Teddy Award
Teddy Award
The Teddy Award is an international film award for films with LGBT topics, presented by an independent jury as an official award of the Berlin International Film Festival . Here, an "independent jury" implies that its members are not officially selected by the committee of the Berlinale...
for best gay feature film.
2004 sex party arrests
On 17 January 2004, Taipei's police raided and arrested 93 gay men at a private orgy party, amidst allegations that they were using drugs. Many people in Taiwan were shocked by reports which revealed that nearly one-third of the attendees were HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
positive. These arrests received severe condemnation from the local gay community. This event is now known as the "HOMEPA" (Home Party) by the Taiwanese gay community.
Public opinion
A poll of 6,439 adults released in April 2006 by the National Union of Taiwan Women's Association/Constitutional Reform Alliance concluded that 75% believe homosexual relations are acceptable, while 25% thought they were unacceptable.See also
- Taiwan PrideTaiwan PrideTaiwan Pride is the annual gay pride parade in Taiwan. The parade was first held in 2003. Although joined by groups from all over the country, the primary location has always been the city of Taipei...
- Gender/Sexuality Rights Association TaiwanGender/Sexuality Rights Association TaiwanGender/Sexuality Rights Association Taiwan also known by the acronym G/STRAT was established in May 1999 in Taiwan. It aims to promote rights of sexual minorities in the aspects of family, education system, politics, economy and law....
- TongzhiTongzhiTongzhi is a term which literally means "same will" or "same purpose" in Chinese. Idiomatically, it means "comrade". It has taken on various meanings in various contexts since the 20th century, and now its use among the younger generation is slang for members of the LGBT community. The term was...
- Homosexuality in ChinaHomosexuality in ChinaHomosexuality in China refers to homosexuality in Chinese culture; which, as a term, is relatively ambiguous in the contemporary context, although many instances have been recorded in the dynastic histories.-Terminology in China:...
, including Taiwan and mainland China - Human rights in Taiwan
- LGBT rights in Asia