At least 200 movers and shakers of the LGBT world gathered in downtown Taipei on Friday night to nJeqP=yCGu=V^2jyHJtPQADVPf&8Uj+7vIN#[email protected]!s57CzkMdkick off the region's largest-ever pride celebrations.

The[email protected]=CNG%@g=eN)&8-JUkmnV3Uu0 GALA BFF GALA event on 25 October at Xinyi Woolloomooloo attracted 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 AmericJjgToCQFUfEiFCgX9oWKqh$JTEEe*q+BdlVCE!xf7)R#alXpMban author and entrepreneur Keith Ferrazzi.

GALA BFF is a place for socializing and connecting for the region’s LGBT people off the dance floor. The group holds monthly get-togethers, networking events, screenings, and talk[email protected]+SxzKW43J0SQNM8!$6upI%q4q2*exgFDI0PY*KV*AAs.

"We are creating linkages and connections between businesses across disciplines" co-founder of GALA BFF, Jay Lin, told gu2+PTV4rKknCY+vc!OWxLw=m9EmK#b6AdvIG5-C=0cXcqzSpests on Friday night.

"[email protected]_zU0a%q0u8Ll++X6Lmt%MnGX=oBm2XM*fwviQud!We want diversity, 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, sK+F_l15G+yQjs#+EsEfSR&!N^%A$1!mr20^qkQUGEtpAs=VbPa romantic-comedy featuring a good-looking tomboy lesbian who starts a new life as a flight attendant.

Award-winning actress Xiao Man, who plays the stewardess, and director Zero Chou$sdMi^[email protected]=F262F%Pt$hJV)zn-kglJcQw3$f+7_CBCwR attended the party.

Nro1CjowfyWt2Nq_$xCi=CI5AuLK2q8aA%qiE9z*T6)DRHuyvSLin also took the opportunity to announce his plan for Taiwan's first LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

He hopes the chamber can allow LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly businesses to par[email protected][email protected]#-UPvU#vxvDPZX6(IAPe^3=WzsUtner 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 F_ovdbz2t*FH5#BngJeUC%eM-_DfT%[email protected]+6uCC-g$9En#to take place on 26 October.

The pride will be held just five months a@sQEgF)@%)[email protected]&H3CYOyB*7LnXyOZE*+!xGBFsh#fter Taiwan became the first country in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

Gay singer-songwriter =-P)[email protected]@5uuu2gC2I=G1+=jMBqN*l5HUSH will be an ambassador for the landmark event.

As one of only a handful ofX_-jp5xm6^A+Z(B&YFy1^=#N%PUuGUb&b(_5WJ090dp5ftP%gf 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 tp!=mW$53bMNVnI6zuEIX^o8wWGHcN3dkKkTn6ihFy4(EHPF-)+his year, the first since Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, sees an altered parade route.

Marchers will start from Taipei City Hall Plaza and nMj0d3zrNMFGLDjZ-Ky*[email protected])8aTiTbtBsMxXUTOq_qa4oUtravel 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 with more than 10bQ&KC+uELPP^ESA#ndG2&!6O%%Qg$Wtrae32i0Ooq+6R5QB7kC0 stalls.

HUSH will also perform at Ketagalan Boulevard.

Press officer for Pride 2019, Benson Le5j9kAIAiH^[email protected]!$I1#!dGkMz$XWy=s219Vi%Qqe, 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 GSJSK^[email protected])@57PIMtBfD_h%1UXmwyDegCxTxFay Family Rights Promotion Association will also hold the first Rainbow Parent-child Carnival and Rainbow Baby Mini Parade.

This year by2Va0GKcqQ^Kn!NYEr([email protected]^esogQO6y#Qu!W+EOo%takes the theme "Together, Make Taiwan Better”.

The theme in Chinese means good neighbor. It was chosen to show that the LGBTQ community is everywhere in Taiwan and, like good neighborKk)[email protected]+)[email protected](hbdjm(L1jH+XtHs, everyone should support one another.

Last year, _h([email protected]%wx(LxZmore than 100,000 people took to the streets of Taipei for a pride parade that demanded marriage equality.

It came just a month before devastating referen)ck%^oWpO=SRSXD$8-zn)AK4gWWO!KdDG_x&XAL6cpsKKqg2Lbdum results showed the majority of Taiwan voters did not support same-sex marriage.

Despite the referendum result, parliament in May fiv%Xl=-#KHE68_7gVn#[email protected]_axJp)9V34=uN0eBuGHgA%YAthQnally 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 next st[email protected]@[email protected]age and will fight against prejudice and stereotyping of LGBT people.


From acclaimed Filipino director Adolfo Alix Jr. comes the first series about gay relationships during quarantine times. An anthology series that explores our need to connect during the worst of times.

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