November 15, 2021
Taiwan to Host First WorldPride in East Asia: Why That’s Important
Taiwan continued to make international headlines last week — not because of growing tensions with China, but rather LGBTQ pride. Last Friday, the city of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan won the bid to host WorldPride in 2025, which will be the first and only WorldPride event to be hosted in East Asia. The Biden administration has expressed its support for the Taiwanese government by advocating for its participation in the United Nations and its right to protect itself against a theoretical Chinese invasion, but Washington should also incorporate its support of the Taiwanese LGBTQ community within its foreign policy on Taiwan.
Washington should encourage its allies in the region to view Taiwan as a model for equal human rights for all and not as an exception to the status quo.
Although not an easy win for human rights activists, Taiwan became the first jurisdiction in East Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019 and the island continues to show support for its LGBTQ citizens. Over the course of five days, more than 300 member organizations worldwide met virtually through the InterPride 2021 General Meeting & World Conference to choose between two locations for WorldPride for 2025: Kaohsiung City and Washington D.C. Kaohsiung Pride won the bid over the Capital Pride Alliance of Washington D.C., marking a major milestone in global pride. Darien Chen, the spokesperson for Kaohsiung Pride, issued a statement following the results declaring that “This is the beginning of a 4-year journey that we plan to ignite change in Asia, to promote InterPride’s mission, and to advance human rights in the world.”
While certainly a victory for all LGBTQ persons and their allies, neighboring Beijing and Seoul will likely maintain a reticent stance against supporting LGBTQ rights.
Read the full article from The Diplomat.
More from CNAS
-
Could There Be a Way to Make Economic Sanctions More Mission Oriented?
Podcast
One of the main tools foreign policy leaders have to exert pressure on other governments is through the use of economic tools. Sanctions, export controls, investment restricti...
By Lt Col Mary Hossier
-
Boosting Economic Security Collaboration Among G7 Economies and like-Minded Allies
Commentary
Emily Kilcrease, senior fellow and director of the CNAS energy, economics, and security program, and Geoff Gertz, senior fellow, participated in the T7, the official engagemen...
By Emily Kilcrease & Geoffrey Gertz
-
Ducking Climate Science Is a Danger to the U.S. Military. Congress Must Help.
Commentary
This article was originally published in Breaking Defense. The Trump Administration’s recent decision to revoke the EPA “endangerment finding” is emblematic of a trend in Amer...
By Will Rogers
-
CNAS Insights | Trump's Plan B for Tariffs
Commentary
The administration is already pivoting to a new tariff architecture that will mostly, though not entirely, recreate his previous tariffs....
By Geoffrey Gertz
