Taipei: Around 150,000 people attended Taiwan Pride on Saturday, with organizers and participants expressing hope that the parade would help build understanding amid a growing global backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The 23rd edition of the parade began Saturday afternoon outside Taipei City Hall, where participants gathered before splitting into two routes that looped through the capital’s Xinyi and Da’an districts.

According to Focus Taiwan, Simon Tai, chairperson of the Taiwan Rainbow Civil Action Association, explained that this year’s theme, “Beyond Links: More than Clicks,” aimed to highlight how algorithms and online discourse shape public perceptions of gender issues. Tai expressed hope that online discussions about LGBT+ issues would encourage people to truly understand differences and move past prejudice and fear. He also noted a global backlash against DEI in the past year, influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump’s second-term policies, with similar trends in parts of Europe.

Tai mentioned that such narratives have impacted how businesses in Taiwan address gender-related issues and allocate resources. He observed a slight reduction in funding this year, with some firms opting out compared to last year, including Taiwan branches of multinational companies citing cuts to DEI budgets. The turnout was lower than last year’s 180,000 attendees.

Participants who attended despite the rain included Lady Gagita, a Filipino drag queen. She humorously referred to the weather as “homophobic” and appreciated the colorful costumes and drag queens at the parade, praising the event for its “overwhelming love.” Lady Gagita highlighted the contrast between Taiwan, where same-sex marriage is legal, and the Philippines, where LGBTQ+ rights are not as protected.

Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, becoming the first country in Asia to do so, a milestone that many Taiwanese people take pride in. Ryu, a 30-year-old theater technician, shared her long-standing involvement with Taiwan Pride and acknowledged the progress made since the first parade in 2003. However, she emphasized that there is still room for improvement in LGBT+ rights in Taiwan.

Ryu highlighted the challenges posed by the fast-paced internet environment, where instant information can lead to arguments and hinder meaningful discussions on issues like surrogacy for same-sex couples and transgender rights. Reflecting on the global backlash against DEI, Ryu suggested that it might be a good time to assess public acceptance levels, cautioning against pushing too quickly and triggering a backlash that could be counterproductive.