The island is set to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan 13.
Saturday’s Pride Parade, the 21st iteration in Taipei, was attended by around 176,000 people, according to organisers.
Taiwan is home to a thriving LGBTQ community and Pride attendee Jason Wu, 19, said this year’s march emphasised diversity.
“I especially rode my mobility scooter out here to let everyone see people with disabilities within the LGBTQ community,” said the university student.
More than 9,600 same-sex couples have wed in Taiwan as of the end of 2022, official figures show.
Social worker Kevin Chou, from the group Taiwan LGBTQ Family Rights Advocacy, said around 10 to 20 same-sex families have begun or completed adoption procedures.
Many in the community were unaware of the expanded adoption rights and only found out due to media coverage, Chou added.
Austrian Joachim Trauner, 40, said he was “overwhelmed” by his first time attending Taipei Pride and felt the island was different from other Asian nations.
“It’s worth (showing) people in Europe how life is in Taiwan and … how you can celebrate life here,” he told AFP.
Penny Liu, a university student from Malaysia, said the event felt “fresh and novel”.
“The atmosphere is filled with freedom,” she said.
Source: CNA
