21 Aug 2015

Seventeen-year-old travels around Taiwan to spread LGBT message

Teenager from Tainan ended nationwide journey around Taiwan island yesterday

Chang Tse-yu finished a three week journey around Taiwan spreading a message of love and acceptance yesterday. Timing perfectly with Lovers' Day he expressed wishes of happiness to all couples and a message of tolerance.

Chang's journey began on July 30 after he came out to his mother. His mother and his friends were reportedly very supportive and Chang spent his summer vacation on a cross-island journey carrying a rainbow flag.

Travelling clockwise around the island, he took with him a large rainbow flag with the words:"I am a homosexual, I am not strange, but like heterosexuals, we seek to be a pillar of strength for our partners through simple love."

"Through my travels I hope to let everyone know that homosexuals are like other people, Chang said, adding that he hopes one day that homosexuals would, like other people, receive equal protection under the law," Chang told the Taipei Times.

Chang also noted that he was invited to institutions to discuss sexuality and explain the importance of the rainbow flag. However, he also noted that some stories about discrimination from families and employers really saddened him.