Hundreds of global LGBT movers and shakers kick off pride at GaLa BFF Gala

At least 200 movers and shakers of the LGBT worl6%Re@3(STx8r(fxzGrI6wJRXtkJH*jfKhSpa&t6hEZ4=5YO9$Dd gathered in downtown Taipei on Friday night to kick off the region's largest-ever pride celebrations.

The GALA BFF GALA event on 25 October at Xinyi Woolloomooloo attracted LGBT and LGBT-friendly professionals from around the world and across many indust&kjhD&-_o^w&)do*OMfbxiGm575YamdffQ+sXfaxBe3D3)8OVkries to enjoy a night of fine food, drinks, and networking.

Guests included legendary Hawaii-based producer Chris Lee and American author and entrepreneur KH9%iyImXDE3Du&OHW(yy!ENWIRsk^k+!W&=g!0tGc3g9*9f3Tjeith 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, netwSdbkwnod1Y5C%YKBF)5#Qe&S%hZMmls%u*@RTLOGwmly2Ou3!$orking events, screenings, and talks.

"We are creating linkages and connections beqfN7SKZpo&xZV0+#5pkkk0-T4vg0oN)8iRVPJ7C+VYjdx-D%P1tween businesses across disciplines" co-founder of GALA BFF, Jay Lin, told guests on Friday night.

"We want diversity, equality, and acceptance to be adopted by society in general, from cultural tastemakers to legislative policymakers, fr#yq1tMWA06Lz1Mx3zUJsCh0shdw%HjFkvGeN2i^ovgO)idjgXpom the boardroom, to the classroom, to the living room."

Lin also launched web series, Handsome Stewardess, a romantic-comedy featuring a good-looking tomboy lesbian ZVS^^Br=LdYZMx8$=G9j=fI$pADBwwqK-kBxsO6Scb@V8KjPxVwho starts a new life as a flight attendant.

Award-winning actress Xiao Man, who plays the stewarf=SBIhro6IOjMI0MC28EP)llf!HDQD@BfpW#Bsugequ@0FlQF6dess, and director Zero Chou attended the party.

Lin alspLAHokWN^4s1Ahkc=y(0&tfk(KXn54@hyoKC^2Gk#DaD$NUwxlo 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 partner up and promote one another's businesses. He also hopes to create a platform for businesses t_QoHM8i&_751ee!uUn=nFmAuC+6#JNQLwiiJuXyWYw0W&RIyz!o 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 s9eXlJizqpI+lL59R(x+JRZR_s1ww0KVI4n-fGVD%fIK+GNPgh=cheduled to take place on 26 October.

The pride will be held just five months after Taiwan became the first oky*p#RdLeTQpm6^4sv5m7v&nGnsihOONaO7bZJSK$v_5t(FKAcountry in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

Gay singer-songwriter HUSHAUdZBVCNxRkI0xo4^VSz%*VLJ-K@DuG77HU+8rmHru*@tQo%yZ will be an ambassador for the landmark event.

As one of sbRi&!$hafH*e#K_38w+fiP_Y9P2IH_5hYtaNGj3w-S&hU9Xe8only 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 country in Asiav!+SP8UsSQav9B=VCB%p0)_O8!7sCxXa(0V*)_kIWWTu)YC9ce to legalize same-sex marriage, sees an altered parade route.

Marchers will start from Taipei City Hall Plaza and travel along Yixian Road to Zhongxia EaGYBinRBLZkYYjE$L^uKIjvPHw2c4l0MSbsR2XI4Od*$@CM9W6jst Road.

The parade will then turn south to Renai Road before ending near the Presidential Palace at Ketagalan Boulevard where the%22JuUPaL4G%3oNh35-$%rlBBJsMItc9Iyhetj(Q&#aLrsN$nPre will be a Rainbow Market with more than 100 stalls.

HUSH will also perform at Ketagalan Boulevard.

Press officer for Pride 20dhMDpv)k=d=5z)*V+1(O=SFXxaB2CTPda#83Hk)pFwBAmC626&19, Benson 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 RigIvuBblp1S&ku2so9=fZAIE_Me_sA))j)plN^Z(GJfEkwnx=B@_hts Promotion Association will also hold the first Rainbow Parent-child Carnival and Rainbow Baby Mini Parade.

This year takes the tAOh3Vehu**ewQKf4IjH_Bt#I8)h&dzCGt+4zxBwxsabtF&e&1Yheme "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 neighbors, every_gs!9#ak6*6bj_4$wphc25%JC))qCVYz3^2I3^TaClxd6uyQeMone should support one another.

Last year, more than 100,000 people took to the streets of TnFu$WTE0N#!JFswQK#bv7WAnb6OlS+AMaRPyLv)v-*0_Y&z8sLaipei for a pride parade that demanded marriage equality.

It came just a month before devastating referendum results showed the majority of Taiwan voters did not support same=+_nJCPs(sQGcmCw$!$PwyhYroSgc#fiWUT*eO7SkzwTtMU(ME-sex marriage.

Despite the referendum result, parliament in May finally legRm$pLuo_sWTdGr*s5sHZVCZN1ry#IjaH8fFNe8W3+GpPHFOSb+alized same-sex marriage in line with a 2017 Constitutional Court ruling that failing to do so was unconstitutional.

This year, according to organizers, the LGBTDgsvWFG+1anHw!9h@480Q5j!52mA1*hTNqo$!HsbIaLI$m3PKk rights movement has moved to the next stage and will fight against prejudice and stereotyping of LGBT people.