Gay pride event welcomed in Taiwan: but please don’t pander to China

Taiwan, and the City of Kaohsiung were happy to receive the news that Kaohsiung City was chosen to host WorldPride 2025, after an announcement by InterPride, November 13. However, there are mixed feelings about terminology used in the announcement that reeks of pandering to the Chinese Communist Party.

Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai said that Taiwan is the first country in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage and that the choice of Kaohsiung, Taiwan to host the 2025 event is of great pride to the Kaohsiung and Taiwan.

Kaohsiung Gay Parade Alliance, who obtained the rights to host the event said that WorldPride can attract millions of people from all over the world, and that this is a historic moment for Taiwan, and another first for Taiwan in Asia’s gay movement.

However, citizens commenting on social media took chagrin to the awkward terminology in InterPride’s announcements, where it referred to the democratic country as “the region of Taiwan.”

Text reads "Interpride is excited to announce that Kaohsiung Pride in the region of Taiwan has won the bid to host WorldPride in 2025."

The InterPride announcement using the term “region of Taiwan” was included on InterPride’s official website and social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that according to its understanding, the terminology was due to pressure from China, and that MOFA is maintaining close contact with local sponsor Kaohsiung Gay Parade Alliance to help facilitate corrections via “internal channels” and providing assistance “to ensure the dignity of our country, and the rights and interests of our country’s non-governmental organizations to participate in international events unimpaired by improper political pressure.”

As for the citizens of Taiwan who commented on social media, nobody demanded anybody to refer to Taiwan as “country of Taiwan,” “nation of Taiwan,” or “anything” of Taiwan. There is no need to embellish the term.

A simple “Taiwan” would do.

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2 thoughts on “Gay pride event welcomed in Taiwan: but please don’t pander to China

  • November 16, 2021 at 9:09 am
    Permalink

    Tuh hell with “InterPride.” We should tell ’em they are NOT welcome in Taiwan because they have clearly chosen to politicise the event along Communist lines. So I say: JUST GO HAVE YOUR PARTY IN COMMIE CHINA. After all, it’s the Land of the Party, so they’ll surely be plenty happy to have you.

    Reply
  • November 18, 2021 at 6:30 am
    Permalink

    I bet China wanted the notice to say “the province of Taiwan”, and using “region” was thus a compromise. Congrads to the Taiwan English News for not demanding that Taiwan be called a country, or any other qualifier. You’re right, using just “Taiwan” is fine, and it’s the perfect solution. We can say that something is being held in Hong Kong or Guangdong without mentioning it’s a region or a province or anything, so why not Taiwan?

    Reply

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