Taipei: An estimated 3,000 people marched on the streets of Taipei at the 2025 Taiwan Trans March on Friday night to show support for the community, according to the organizer, Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association. The march, themed “Break Prejudice, Shine Diversity,” began at 228 Peace Memorial Park, proceeded west to loop around part of Ximending shopping district, and circled back to the park.

According to Focus Taiwan, participants marched in intermittent rainshowers, waving transgender and rainbow flags, calling on the Taiwanese government to abolish the requirement for mandatory surgery to change gender markers on IDs. Many also chanted that transphobia should “back off.”

Po, a transgender man and volunteer at the Tongzhi Hotline, expressed that the march is crucial as it is one of the few events centered around the trans community. It allows the community to see the support they have and helps the “1 percent” minority feel less alone. Po realized he was transgender around high school and began hormone therapy in college. He noted that he was relatively fortunate to receive little pushback from family and support from friends.

Addressing the “hurtful” messages faced by the community, Po expressed hope that the event can help show people the real trans community and open the way to a more diverse society. June Chua, a transgender activist from Singapore, also emphasized the importance of “showing up.” As the founder of the only LBTQ+ shelter for the homeless transgender community and HIV-positive individuals in Singapore, Chua highlighted that these minority groups are often “hidden” due to safety concerns. Attending the march in Taiwan for the first time, she was surprised but happy to see so many different kinds of people participating.

In a press statement, the Tongzhi Hotline noted the significance of the march in 2025, amid setbacks to transgender rights globally earlier in the year. These setbacks included the United States rolling back inclusive policies and the United Kingdom Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. Now in its seventh year, the Taiwan Trans March is one of the few events in Asia focusing on transgender issues, according to the Hotline.

On Saturday, Taiwan LGBT+ Pride 2025 is scheduled to commence at 2:25 p.m. in front of Taipei City Hall, with the theme “Beyond Links: More than Clicks.”