Fridae

More than 3,800 people joined Taiwan’s eighth Trans March in Taipei on 30 October, according to the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association, which organised the event.

The association said more than 61 domestic and international gender and human-rights groups took part. Allies came from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Under the theme “Crossing Boundaries, Standing Together”, marchers set off from 228 Peace Memorial Park, passed through part of Ximending and returned to the park, CNA reported.

The programme mixed performances with accounts of everyday life. The organiser’s post-event statement lists Taiwanese singer PiA, drag performer Nymphia Wind and Thailand’s Alcazar Cabaret Show among the acts.

Bernie spoke about being bullied at school because of her gender expression. Deven described how workplaces organised around a strict gender binary could make life harder for gender minorities. Both shared their experiences in the organiser’s account.

The march took place the evening before Taiwan’s larger Pride parade on 31 October.

Alex, a nonbinary visitor from South Africa who now lives in Vietnam, told CNA they had never seen so many transgender people gathered in one place. Being there helped them feel less alone.