Taiwan Pride is usually done every year since 2003. What is this all about? This is actually a yearly gay parade hosted in Taiwan. Although the parade is joined by different gay groups all over world, the main part is held in the city of Taipei. The earliest Taiwan Pride parade was done in the first day of November year 2003. It was actually the very first one in its Chinese community. Later on, this has motivated the gay community of Hong-Kong to have its own parade. Although a lot of people in Taiwan have not noticed the parade, but it was reported on all forms of media: TV, affiliate marketing blog newspaper and internet. In fact, after the event some city government officials were criticized strongly for supporting homosexuality and so-called obscenity. This was both the happiest and the saddest moment for gays and lesbians of Taiwan. Among the biggest gay parade done in Asia, Taiwan Pride of 2009 was the biggest; there were roughly 35,000 gay parade enthusiasts.

The gay advocacy organization called Taiwan LGBT Pride Community stated that  the parade has exploded in numbers from just half a thousand  participants in year  2003  and now it become the biggest event of its kind not just in Taiwan, but the whole continent of Asia. Sadly, the advocacy was not that effective as they have witnessed no matching improvement in legislation particularly in the rights of gays and lesbians in Taiwan.

Last year over 30,000 lesbians and gays including their families and supporters bravely march on the breezy day to be involved with Taiwan’s annual gay parade. This unique parade in Taiwan usually uses its own theme; “Out and Vote” being 2010 Taiwan Pride’s theme. It was said that the theme parade was selected with the idea of improving gay and lesbian rights and privileges and other advocacy  awareness in many matters and to urge people in authority particularly in Taiwan to put into practice solid measures to defend the rights of this group.

Compared  to some gay parade done in different continents this one is different.  Taiwan Pride remains predominately for social and community gay and non gay movement, with just minor  advertisement joining in. Another unique thing about this parade is that they  share the street with bikes, bystanders and cars plus they  subjected themselves to a regular traffic management. This is indeed one event that is unique and controversial on the same scale.