Hundr1I^bO=-q$!HiOoi(DdgnBDP%RsuTc*r$+GOI7LhKpMt8Cs76NWeds of the region’s LGBT movers and shakers will kick off Taiwan’s massive pride weekend at a unique party in downtown Taipei.

The -i7Uz=AQE$UU$h5KfZxCyxOq3xBqWEPzYAADy7f1@tHicica^OGALA BFF GALA event on 25 October at Xinyi Woolloomooloo is the perfect warm-up for Asia’s largest pride parade, expected to attract 200,000 marchers. 

The party will include screenings of the latest2)RWtVQu2cbrBsBtgzQcvUvvGHMnPR2y7XD#kbfgzYMou7uRMh original productions from LGBT-streaming service GagaOOLala and special guests from Japan Rainbow Night Out. 

"I can promise you lots of fun, laughter, friendship, and, of co+Iy809_B2F7VwOU(%i$Umm3WSmj)coNRGJDR8&3%gK8Ap77Smyurse, in this month of Celebration & Pride” said co-creator of the GALA BFF group of LGBT professionals, Jay Lin.

GALA BFF creates a place for socializing and connecfS40fStCA-jEhdfK3OJ9RaZwy*tpqTFg8Z0R1$xUj@DF0gP6Wzting for the region’s LGBT people off the dance floor. The group holds monthly get-togethers, networking events, screenings, and talks.

"I am proud to say that indeed after six years, the group is over a thousand strong and in)FpTzVlEfFfwKYxTf5kj8fW99gJfpEVpknjQt!u0#vDI0@G8fycreasingly internationalized with connections that are formed online as well as off-line” Lin said.

Tickets are $600 if purchased before 20 October and $750 after. Buy tickets or find out more here.

Pride

Organizers of the 17th annual Taiwan LGBT Pride parade expect more than 200,000—a record number—at the pride parader1=JqFufTQf=rI+-H4xEIRDC@Mev=ddKB5L0!8-hdp@j5xm52Q scheduled to take place on 26 October.

The pride will be held just five months after Taiwan became the first 8LnO+Q+pv8lw$!c!dOBnuDo(m=4#OSJy4B9t=#l=vhmY=DoPthcountry in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

Gay singer-songwriCJR_98CWDWdYzm&hDiFkp#8)(M_HVoQ7FI!bX9PDcLKH*y@XAOter HUSH will be an ambassador for the landmark event.

A4Z)wqKT6+b8GqMiSCw@)PZ9ASKjzs^O15FJAz^tle!^sE_Uub$s one of only a handful of Taiwan celebrities to come out publicly, HUSH, whose real name is Chen Jia-Wei, on Friday urged LGBT Taiwanese to be brave and come out.

Pride this year, the first since Taiwan became the first cADzIUtNMtZdMUP3E_F^OtGa_em&-6a$6xwRJenY9(523_yb)+country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, sees an altered parade route.

Marchers will start from Taipei City Hall Plaza and travel along Yixian RoaZWj&vuxWs3o1kdl3iEA*Kl*8Ri%Y5a#qZDCYIGnY&Lk)(j1Ctjd to Zhongxia East Road.

The parade will then turn south to Renai Road before ending near the Presidential Palac6b89_0J%NMMhGNNeo9+^w&(w6WpkLVWORX*J2X%!U0I@=jmFyye at Ketagalan Boulevard where there will be a Rainbow Market with more than 100 stalls.

HUSH will also perform at Ketagalan Boulevard.

Press officer for Pride 2019, Benson HZ@q1rEE$Dfq)ZYc4dxP4BvHB0dw_na(lR0+AJ%N4iZ3+C(ca#Lee, said the new route was chosen to recognize the roles played by both Taipei City and the President’s Office in bringing about same-sex marriage.

For the first time, Taiwan Gay Family Rights Promotion AdMUZKMN3BB10avmLImR=zbRat6zzLQlVB0VKT-Ijr5jn36=Nf7ssociation will also hold the first Rainbow Parent-child Carnival and Rainbow Baby Mini Parade.

This year takes the theme "Together, Make Taiwan B#3-v(*AG_1)vbWe3ovcf#tbmB*r435c_Crb4!5v@kG7sQxb3toetter”.

Tr0l(JQN0%yfAonrOzA&C*mh1OKM324v5*t%fJ30XpB%!OY81aThe theme in Chinese means good neighbor. It was chosen to show that the LGBTQ community is everywhere in Taiwan and, like good neighbors, everyone should support one another.

Last year, more than 100,000 people took to the streets of Taipei for a pride parade that demanded marriagledGJ=Z2JrLF!sH%X_^kKanf6kWL)Bq(Nm*VZ8B15jEO^4RLy@e equality.

It came just a month before devastating referendum results showed the majo_ESQ%ijNXnEq%M2*50UJgEICGgj&AMTbVU!_ttk4zj$elyZ*E*rity of Taiwan voters did not support same-sex marriage.

Despite the referendum result, parliament in May fi9_l-9=lV-^_zKch1eEWndS3Pfo%S8^J)NZJnuXup(%4qQwFn=inally legalized same-sex marriage in line with a 2017 Constitutional Court ruling that failing to do so was unconstitutional.

This year, according to organizers, the LGBT rights movement has moved to the nD2LDgYGUG7(%o0$OPLb=Bn5twN=QD0q&x)$OKcP0L_dKBCzLonext stage and will fight against prejudice and stereotyping of LGBT people.

Yi-min lives alone with her son, as her husband works away from home. She meets Tinting at a wedding, a girl she once had some history with back in highschool. Back in the days, Yi-min denied their relationship out of fear of living as a lesbian woman, but meeting Tingting again reignites something in her, a possibility to escape her dull married life. Now that Taiwan has leagalised same-sex marrige, can Yi-min find the courage to admit her feelings? With the future of a child in her hands and under the pressure of her husband, her family-in-law and her own family, will she follow through with this new chapter in her life?