The New York Times has praised Taiwan as a beacon for Asia’s gay communities. The report on Wednesday also covered the gay pride march last Saturday in Taipei.
The report said that while laws legalizing same-sex marriage are sweeping the United States, Latin America, and Europe, gay rights advocates across Asia are still struggling to secure basic protections. Some countries even have laws punishing same-sex behavior.
But the New York Times report said that when it comes to gay rights in Asia, Taiwan is a world apart. Openly gay and lesbian soldiers can serve in the military, and the education ministry requires textbooks to promote tolerance for gays and lesbians. In recent years, legislators have passed protections for gays, including a law against workplace discrimination.
The newspaper also quoted the director of Asia and Pacific island programs at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Grace Poore, as saying that Taiwan is way ahead of its neighbors, and an inspiration for much of Asia.