Taiwan Set to Host World’s Only Pride Rally on Stonewall Anniversary

Taiwan Pride Parade for the World will take place in Taipei on the afternoon of Sunday, June 28 and promises to take the form of an old school rally. With in-person Pride celebrations around the world canceled this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taipei will likely be the only place where people can gather to mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots.

Although the regular Taipei Pride Parade event is held in October to avoid the summer heat, organizers Darien Chen 陳宏昌—formerly Mr. Gay Taiwan—and local Mamasan drag queen Magnolia La Manga decided to organize a grassroots event to celebrate Pride on behalf of those around the world who are stuck in lockdown or otherwise prohibited from public gathering in the traditional Pride month of June.

“We decided to put on the event on behalf of anyone who couldn’t get out and celebrate, for any reason,” Magnolia told Ketagalan Media, “but mainly due to the coronavirus and the fact that we haven’t been so affected here in Taiwan.”

Rather than the thronged streets of the annual Taipei Pride Parade, which is scheduled for October 31 this year, this small-scale rally will see people gather from 3 p.m. at the Liberty Square Arch by Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The organizers hope that the rally, which will follow a Global Pride streamed event on the Saturday, will have a mellow vibe.

“We wanted to keep it old school and non-commercial for a couple reasons,” Magnolia said. “Politically, the commercialization of Pride is an issue these days, and also because getting anything organized with committees of multiple people and interests takes months to organize, and we only had a few weeks.”

The organizers have arranged for rainbow facemasks and Pride signs for a few hundred people. People are encouraged to bring along markers to complete the signs with the place, cause or people that they are marching for.

Magnolia explains that the purpose is for people to get together in solidarity with others who are stuck inside, but also with people in countries and places where Pride celebrations are banned.

“We will be highlighting those places on banners at the event, along with any other message than any attendee wants to shout out,” Magnolia said. “It’s an open mic, but for visuals.”

A small march, or more likely a meander due to the summer heat, will be led around the memorial grounds starting at 4 p.m. with a planned photo op on the steps of the mausoleum. Afterwards people are encouraged to mingle back by the arches with the event winding down at around 6 p.m.

The event will be funded by NGOs and community donations. Alongside the fun, there will be a tent collecting donations of medical masks to be sent to various international LGBTQ centers. Rainbow Queer will also be providing sexual health advice and services onsite.

In related news, the Stonewall Inn in New York—the site of the raid that sparked the modern fight for human rights by the LGBTQ community in 1969—has been struggling due to the coronavirus and has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help to pay for costs to keep the LGBTQ landmark and monument open once restrictions are lifted in New York. The Taipei event falls on the anniversary of the June 28 raid.

Last May, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, making it an immediate beacon of hope for the continent’s LGBTQ community. But same-sex couples in Taiwan still have not secured some rights afforded heterosexual couples, including full adoption rights and transnational marriages between Taiwanese nationals and citizens of countries that have not legalized gay marriage.

As always, the event is free and open to all (and their pets). With the forecast showing high temperatures for Sunday, attendees are advised to bring along sunscreen, umbrellas for shade, and drinking water.

“Anyone who wants to celebrate Pride Month should attend,” Magnolia said, “but anyone who also wants to take advantage of our unique position in Taiwan right now to show their support for others who are less fortunate and less free should also come along and make themselves seen and heard.”

“In our social media age, this event is a platform for visibility, solidarity, and love. And to share that love with as many people as possible. We want to make people happy and to give a little hope and a little brightness.”

Event details:
Location: Liberty Square Arch, No. 21, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, 100
Nearest MRT: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial hall, Exit 5 (Red Line, Green Line)
Date: Sunday, June 28
Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Although COVID-19 prevention safeguards have been lowered for outdoor gatherings, organizers do suggest that participants wear a mask for virus prevention purposes.

(All photos courtesy of Alejandro Wang)