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Taipei mayor gets angry reception at Pride after gay bar raid
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an faced an angry reception at Taiwan's annual Pride parade following a recent police raid on a city gay bar, which sparked public outrage in a country known for its LGBTQ+ rights.
- Over 170,000 people attended the parade, East Asia's largest Pride event, with protesters shouting slogans against the police raid and showing support for Chiang's main opponent, Puma Shen of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
- Chiang apologized for the incident and promised a rigorous investigation and immediate discipline, but his brief 15-minute appearance was met with continued protests.
- The police raid on the Commander D bar involved questioning 51 people and arresting the owner over alleged public indecency, reigniting historical trauma among Taiwan's LGBTQ+ community and prompting Pride organizers to revise this year's theme.
- High-profile DPP figures, including Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and President Lai Ching-te, showed strong support for the LGBTQ+ community during the parade, emphasizing respect and protection against discrimination.
