A small opposition party alliance is fielding five openly gay candidates in next January’s legislative elections. The Green/Social Democrat Alliance (GSDA) held a press conference on Monday to announce the move, which is being seen as a major step in Taiwan’s gay rights movement.
One of the candidates, Jennifer Lu, said that Taiwan’s gay rights movement has been active for years, but those topics are not seen as important election issues. She said that some have even called on her to minimize her emphasis on gay rights issues within the election. But Lu said that all issues are connected in some way to gender.
Meanwhile, another of the five openly gay candidates, lawyer Hsu Hsiu-wen, said many Taiwanese support gay rights issues. However, she said that so far not one candidate has taken a position on gay marriage. Hsu said that by voting for the GDSA, and electing gay lawmakers, it can help bring change to the legislature.
“We believe that all people, regardless of gender, sexual preference, gender identity, class or ethnicity, all have the equal right to participate in the governance of this country, and that’s why we want to participate, why gay people want to participate," said Hsu.
The candidates urged the public to join in Taiwan’s annual gay pride parade on October 31, and march for those who are not able to come out.