LGBT
If Taipei is Asia’s gay friendliest city, the W Taipei is surely Taipei’s gay friendliest 5 star hotel, offering a special Pride in Taiwan room package and hosting one of the biggest LGBT parties in town.
Tens of thousands will march in Asia’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) pride event on 31 October 2015 in the heart of Taipei, Taiwan.
More than 80,000 people from all over the island, around Asia, and throughout the world are expected to attend the 13th Annual Gay Pride Parade in Taipei, Taiwan, which will be held on 31 October 2015.
While that number might seem paltry by American, Australian, or European standards – where crowds at gay pride celebrations in large cities usually number in the hundreds of thousands – it does give Taipei the honour of hosting the largest Gay Pride Parade in Asia.
Next to Taipei’s Gay Pride Parade, Asia’s largest LGBT event is held each year in Singapore, where homosexual acts are still officially illegal.
About 28,000 people attended a Pink Dot celebration in the city’s Hong Lim Park in June 2015.
A similar Pink Dot event held in Hong Kong in September drew a crowd of 15,500. Last year’s gay rights march, which was held in November, drew an estimated 8,900 people.
In other Asian cities, the turnouts at LGBT events are routinely much, much smaller.
The Tokyo Rainbow Pride Parade last April, for example, drew only 3,000 participants. Gay Pride celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, have failed to attract much interest and may be dropped.
Largest LGBT Event in Asia
Taipei’s Gay Parade always takes place on the last Saturday of October, and this year it coincides with Halloween. It is the high point of a 4 day celebration.
The Taiwan Pride Parade starts from Kaidagelan Blvd at 1 pm. It proceeds thought the streets of Taipei, ending up back where it started about 2 hours later.
The theme of this year’s parade is “Age Is No Limit”. The parade started out as a political rally. It has evolved into a celebration of gay culture.
If Taiwan Pride is the largest LGBT event in Asia, it has humble beginnings. The first event in 2003 drew only 500 participants.
The following year, however, the number grew exponentially to 65,000!
Click here for more information on Taiwan Pride
Gay Friendliest Hotel?
If Taipei is Asia’s gay friendliest city, the W Taipei is surely Taipei’s gay friendliest 5 star hotel, offering a special Pride in Taiwan room package and hosting one of the biggest LGBT parties in town.
The hotel room package – “Pride in Taiwan 2015” – runs from 27 October to 1 November 2015.
In addition to accommodation, the package will include welcome cocktails for 2, daily protein shakes for 2, a pride in-room amenity, and giveaways from LGBT-friendly partners.
Fully 10% of the revenue from the room package will be donated to the “Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBT) Hotline Association” to support of Hotline’s work in serving Taiwan’s gay community.
“W is always a big supporter on gay rights,” says Cary Michael Gray, the General Manager of W Taipei.
“This year, we collaborated with Jennifer Hudson in United States on ‘Turn It Up for Change’ campaign for supporting gay marriage equal rights with a great number of feedback flooded in as a result. In Taiwan, through supporting Taiwan Pride parade annually, we wish everyone who lives on this island could all enjoy the same civil rights no matter who they love.”
Pride Parties
Several parties will be held on 31 October, especially in the vicinity of the Red House, which is home to several outdoor gay bars and other kinds of gay friendly businesses such as coffee houses, bookstores, and boutiques.
One of the largest gay parties will be Party Pride, which will be held at W Taipei’s legendary Woobar, one of the most happening party venues in town.
Taiwan’s hunkiest DJ Will Hsu will spin the discs. He has also gigged at Taipei’s legendary G5 and Followme party, Beijing’s Destination Club, Shanghai’s Icon Club, and Guangzhou’s Papa Club.
Some hotter than hot Go Go Boys will also perform courtesy of Japanese underwear brand Toot.
The first 100 party-goers to show up could earn tickets to “Stonewall”, a movie based on the New York City’s “Stonewall Riots”, which is scheduled to be shown in Taiwan’s theaters in this December.
Where
W Taipei, 10 Zhongxiao East Road, Section 5, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. Hotel Website: W Taipei