Taiwan Pride Draws Over 170,000 to Taipei for Major LGBTQ+ Celebration

More than 170,000 people took to the streets of Taipei on Saturday 31 October as Taiwan Pride returned for its 24th annual celebration, bringing together LGBTQ+ communities, supporters and international visitors for one of Asia's largest Pride events.

Organised by the Taiwan Rainbow Civil Action Association, the parade transformed the Taiwanese capital into a colourful display of rainbow flags, costumes and performances. Participants travelled from across Taiwan and overseas to join the celebration, which continues to attract some of the largest Pride crowds in East Asia.

Our Voices, Our Journey Celebrates LGBTQ+ Communities

This year's theme, Our Voices, Our Journey, comes from a Taiwanese Hokkien phrase encouraging people to listen to one another and move forward together. Organisers wanted the event to promote understanding between different communities by encouraging people to share their experiences and recognise perspectives beyond their own.

More than 180 organisations registered to participate, including LGBTQ+ charities, student groups, community organisations and businesses. First-time participants joined experienced marchers, while families, friends and international visitors contributed to a celebration that reflected the growing reach of Taiwan Pride.

The procession began outside Taipei City Hall before splitting into two routes through the capital, with participants eventually returning to the starting point. A rainbow market and stage performances provided further opportunities for people to celebrate and connect throughout the afternoon.

How Taiwan Pride Became One of Asia's Biggest LGBTQ+ Events

Taiwan Pride began in 2003 as a grassroots demonstration supporting LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. Since then, the annual parade has developed into one of the region's most significant celebrations, regularly attracting crowds of more than 100,000 people.

Organisers estimated that approximately 150,000 participants attended despite heavy rain in 2025, while the previous year's celebration attracted more than 180,000. This year's turnout continues that tradition, with the event drawing people from countries where openly celebrating LGBTQ+ identities can be considerably more difficult.

Taiwan also holds an important place in LGBTQ+ history after becoming the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019. The legislation represented a major milestone for marriage equality, although campaigners continue to raise concerns about discrimination and the treatment of LGBTQ+ communities.

Pride Celebrations Follow Controversial Police Raid

Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim attended Pride activities, joining representatives from community organisations and public institutions supporting LGBTQ+ equality. Her involvement came during a celebration that also reflected concerns about the treatment of LGBTQ+ people by authorities.

Earlier in October, a police raid on a gay bar in Taipei sparked protests after dozens of customers were detained for questioning. The incident prompted criticism from LGBTQ+ campaigners, with the city's mayor subsequently apologising and several officers facing disciplinary action.

The controversy remained a subject of discussion during Pride, with some participants protesting when Mayor Chiang Wan-an briefly attended the event. The incident demonstrated that, despite Taiwan's progress on LGBTQ+ rights, concerns about discrimination and policing continue to affect the community.

You can read more about the incident in our earlier report on Taipei disciplining six police officers following the gay bar raid.

Transgender Community Joins the Pride Celebrations

The main parade followed Taiwan's eighth annual Trans March, which took place in Taipei on Friday 30 October and attracted an estimated 3,800 participants. The event brought transgender and non-binary people together with supporters to promote visibility, challenge discrimination and highlight the importance of gender recognition.

Organised by the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association, the march also drew attention to calls for removing mandatory surgery requirements when changing gender markers on official identification documents. Participants carried transgender and rainbow flags while demonstrating support for greater equality and recognition.

Together, the two marches formed a major weekend of LGBTQ+ activity in Taipei, providing opportunities for different communities to celebrate their identities while drawing attention to the issues they continue to face.

More Pride Celebrations Planned Across Taiwan

Taiwan's Pride celebrations will continue beyond Taipei, with further marches scheduled in Taichung and Kaohsiung. Both cities have developed their own LGBTQ+ events, extending Pride activities to communities outside the capital.

Taichung Pride is scheduled for 14 November, followed by Kaohsiung Pride on 5 December, giving LGBTQ+ organisations and supporters further opportunities to come together before the end of the year.

Attention will then turn to Taiwan Pride's 25th anniversary in 2027, another milestone for an event that has grown from a grassroots demonstration into an internationally recognised celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, community and equality.

Images: AAP