Taipei, at Tipping Point

CEBU, Philippines —  The last weekend of October marked not just Halloween chills, or trick or treating. A large number of young, gay Asians wanted to make a political statement while throwing in the possibility of romance at the same time. Saying goodbye to October also meant saying hello to gay pride celebrations in Taiwan.

Yes, this little island that's constantly bullied by China is actually both a unique haven and a seething hotbed for the LGBT movement.

Just a while back, the Taiwanese Supreme Court ruled that denying marriage to gay people was unconstitutional, and ordered its own legislature to enact an implementing law in two years. That was cause for major dancing and prancing among the activists, and would have been a major ingredient in this year's pride celebration, but unfortunately, the merry-making has been dampened somewhat.  For within this two-year interval, more conservative sectors of Taiwanese society have been campaigning to defeat this judicial gain, and mobilized into plan a general referendum that would result in denying marriage to LGBTs.

All the more, then, has it become important to support the Taiwanese LGBT community in its struggle to prevail within their unique political landscape.  For sure, that motivation drove the thousands of merrymakers flying in from Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and yes, the Philippines.

 The appointed day of October 27 dawned bright and clear, with temperatures in a comfortable 19-22 degrees Celsius.  It was bedlam at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, which was one of the recognized starting points (there are now three separate routes, given the expected hundred thousand strong marchers).

Floats, balloons, and flags complemented the outlandish outfits and bare six-pack abs that normally adorn and embellish parades. Whistles, music and cheers in all languages surrounded the participants – certainly not an occasion for the faint-hearted or the anti-social!  Taipei gay bars and student organizations led the way, but non-affiliated costume lovers were out in their most outrageous outfits, determined to get the best social media coverage.

There was a strong Japanese presence, with floats from the Tokyo Pride clique and Japanese gogo boys interspersed with determined marchers.  Gay apps like Blued and Hornet had representation, and of course, they had picked the hottest bodies and hardest muscles as their endorsers of choice.

The topic of sexual health was predominantly strong, with messages of testing and protection dotting the scene.  I spotted a four-year-old kid handing out free condoms and lube, and the adult minding him chortled with laughter as we posed for a souvenir shot.

It would be safe to posit that the parade wasn't just for LGBTs alone. Young straight couples with babies bedecked in rainbow finery wandered around, and mothers, fathers, and grandparents were visible.  Sure, the obligatory transvestites were there, and two acquaintances from Bangkok vamped in thigh-high slits, Marilyn Monroe locks, and their piece de resistance, unshaven beards and mustaches. 

Make no mistake, Taiwan is at a crossroads.  If the mandate of the Supreme Court is successfully implemented, it would be the first ever Asian country to legalize gay marriage. Full equality for Taiwanese citizens would serve as a springboard for Hong Kong and Japanese activists, two countries that seem the next likeliest to achieve recognition for LGBTs.  As Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek mused during his days, Taiwan has indeed "become a beacon of hope for free Asia."

This November, about a dozen questions will be posed to Taiwanese citizens in a referendum. Some seek to ban discussion of LGBT topics in school and to propagate the notion that only men and women can marry.  The gay counterparts have proposed their own questions to counteract the anti-gay movement.

Small wonder it was all out at the Pride parade, as pom-poms, feathers and placards all tried to drum up support against the anti-gay rhetoric.  A disastrous result in the referendum could force the government to draw up a bill to mirror the results, and then to forward it to parliament.  That would be a clash with the injunction of the top court, which gave the parliament a deadline of until next year to pass the pro-marriage bill.

Was the 137,000 strong contingent enough to sway the watching public?  With messages of love, inclusiveness, and equality, the "feel-good" nature of the campaign might be able to sway the tide against the fake news and hate messages that have likewise infected the debate in this country, as in the rest of the world.