At least 200 movers and shakers of the LGBT world gathered in downtown Taipei on Friday night to kick off the region[email protected]@[email protected]^mYsDWW$bG*j9LSFD-tC2d%U*yGqI's largest-ever pride celebrations.

The GALA BFF GALA event on 25 October at Xinyi Woolloomooloo attracted[email protected]_S*CuL LGBT and LGBT-friendly professionals from around the world and across many industries to enjoy a night of fine food, drinks, and networking.

Guests included legendary Hawaii-based producer Chris Lee and American author and entrl0JDHnIVF57GawUm7tN310j)6pCvj$cRdyvB0OmOj=S=DeJQ%Tepreneur Keith Ferrazzi.

GALA BFF is a place for socializing and connecting for the region’&A7_P*ZwSk8S5kEByQ$lNipQ^GYm#v6LCh9WiIfuO+z-b*[email protected]s LGBT people off the dance floor. The group holds monthly get-togethers, networking events, screenings, and talks.

"We are creating linkages and connections between businesses across disciplines" co-founder of GALA BFF, Jay Lin, told guests on Friday nighg6QTAGA%FyAP4^5SFbwe$Cf9_P(rX%C*Y-H$0Eew#qp1E+7N1bt.

"We want diveyqgx-k$T=Ojwa5RS=)W2NL*Ha$RIe%^W(&-Qw_FNNCTVS_f4qcrsity, equality, and acceptance to be adopted by society in general, from cultural tastemakers to legislative policymakers, from the boardroom, to the classroom, to the living room."

Lin also launched web series, Handsome Stewardess, a romantic-comedy featuring a good-looking tom9Z)o-XIQk)B*EqDAgCsLlDVkA#r!w3**Zx(jmq_-(%xhquEJUZboy lesbian who starts a new life as a flight attendant.

Award-winning actress Xiao Man,eG&NiXTCq=mUDD-oHb0&5MgBGzZ#[email protected]%gbJUJj352J# who plays the stewardess, and director Zero Chou attended the party.

Lin also took Gzd=nBJrHP#QB$JL!0wT^nZiaJjY5(@VYjg)QZPekjR$12OA-ethe opportunity to announce his plan for Taiwan's first LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

He hopes the ch[email protected]=NV#JGUbDXVRB$ysW&$2jP6OUG3Z_#TCZ$l2KbkWixkamber can allow LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly businesses to partner up and promote one another's businesses. He also hopes to create a platform for businesses to laise with like-minded businesses around the world.

Pride

Organizers of the 17th annual Taiwan LGBT Pride parade expect more than 200,000—a record number—at the pride parade scheduled to take place on 26 Oclm5xu++cgB1gFWMNi0*BNZ*Q8I25HuXZT$X9f=c+znIrTPMeLptober.

The pride will be held just five months after Taiwan became the first cou+=LUk$tNSV0FW8MRVBqIGBcwxP^o(Pe(5wsejv&#mp5G^o*jsentry in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

Gay singer-so+WlPYv_Nt1^[email protected]#_i^[email protected]+NLXe5bJPVx)ngwriter HUSH will be an ambassador for the landmark event.

As one of only a handful of Taiwan celebrities to come out publicly, HUSrEA&a=KW!EepPVgrcgXZ(hgnSJuR-uZ$86%s+U!ws4(yp3mU_=H, 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 lWVABcVfEfto(-LRsXxJhjtj5lY57RSAZXfFOXmpdcrRdGK)@hcountry in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, sees an altered parade route.

MaAm-6)1$ReMw53e#9nIv=*@3Y1XXGRL$of%3#eckLlzlpx7SNL5rchers will start from Taipei City Hall Plaza and travel along Yixian Road to Zhongxia East Road.

The parade will then turn south to Renai Road before ending near the Presidential Palace at Ketagalan Boulevard where there will be a Rainbow Market[email protected](Zh%CiK8%ZcT3B3Y6fNTyI-M*s*2D0H3nI^3GGkp+2i with more than 100 stalls.

HUSH will also perform at Ketagalan Boulevard.

Press officer for Pride 2019, Benson Lee, said th@boIhJj6doh#x-qr1K3=SwX#Htq*FBTiAO+mI$^[email protected]+=1e 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 ^pNU8oBsRbUdmLNY)B&DqyY=WTFWtB&zntFYqrdpLICvDN0aATtime, Taiwan Gay Family Rights Promotion Association will also hold the first Rainbow Parent-child Carnival and Rainbow Baby Mini Parade.

This year takes the theme "ToA=UPM46S!vu=-Rmj3pYLre$$gtt&RLU27n)Qs_-2Xgu3VFJ_z=gether, Make Taiwan Better”.

The theme in Chinese means good neighbor. It was chosen to show that the LGBTQ-asN3qEA91G_rZZioaAAJBxdmWXCps_9gIfAtOX=eNH1M7Cbi* 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 fx8R-sjCbrr1#!x)[email protected]!YFNhn^!^js^ebj3xV*!or a pride parade that demanded marriage equality.

It came just a month before devastating referenduo!xuOGW2fX23%*l)e9+tX^_#dfL*PL*[email protected]+kVIl33m results showed the majority of Taiwan voters did not support same-sex marriage.

Despite the referendum result, parliament in May finally lega[email protected]%ZE39XKde=#J^[email protected]_#a$I3ZOghWN4$VOGTxlized 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 next stage and will fight against prejudice and stereoAyn!h+igI$1Sy=fLBip^o7ZlqWQxTtYGnXui6*Tik(^4tPHW&Mtyping of LGBT people.

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