【事後新聞稿】2023 第五屆台灣跨性別遊行五千人同行，走一段跨性別的路
2023年10月27日晚間，台灣同志諮詢熱線協會（以下簡稱熱線）在西門町盛大舉辦第五屆台灣跨性別遊行，超過5,000人參與，比起2022年的3,000人更多，也讓台灣跨性別遊行成為亞洲最大的跨性別遊行。今年遊行的主題為：「自在同行，走一段跨性別的路。」期盼社會能夠持續關注跨性別議題，突破性別二分的框架，展現性別多元樣貌。
本次跨性別遊行，熱線邀請到跨性別者分享他們的真實故事，讓大眾更加暸解跨性別者的處境。跨性別男性Deven分享跨性別者在職場上被怎麼稱呼或是使用廁所都會有很大的焦慮，希望大家能夠從中性稱呼開始，友善的性別廁所建設等，改善職場友善環境。志工Alice分享在使用醫療資源上從報到、進入診間到拿藥，都有可能因為身分證上的性別而被稱呼錯誤，導致跨性別者在使用醫療資源的意願降低，也希望熱線的證件貼紙能夠更加推廣，減少跨性別在使用醫療資源上的焦慮。公開出櫃的跨性別演員Miya也將分享他的故事，鼓勵台下，就算不符合社會既定框架，也要告訴自己是獨一無二的，為自己而驕傲。同時，來自新北市鷺江國小的翁麗淑老師，也期盼能夠透過教育讓社會大眾不再恐懼跨性別。下半場也邀請長期為跨性別發聲的台灣伴侶權益推動聯盟的志工夥伴宇宣，與非二元酷兒浪子的玉吐，有任何法律上的問題，或是任何關於性別認同的問題，都可以找兩個團體協助。
今年跨性別遊行也得到來自國際的祝福與支持，熱線邀請來自菲律賓的跨性別移工Chane和Jessy，期盼大家能夠用自身的故事改變世界。來自荷蘭的2023年國際皇后小姐（Miss International Queen）Solange Dekker、和蒙古同志中心的執行長 Enkhmaa Enkhbold，一同上台喊話聲援跨性別的權益，也給予在場所有支持跨性別權益的人最大的鼓勵與讚揚。
此次也是跨性別遊行首次加入來自企業的協力夥伴，長期關注且重視 LGBTQ+ 社群的Activision、Blizzard 和 King表示：「驕傲（Pride）對我們至關重要，它是我們對遊戲表達熱愛的一種方式。」，公司旗下遊戲不僅提供全球數百萬的玩家史詩級的娛樂體驗，更讓他們在充滿歡樂和團結的世界認識自己。
同樣長年支持LGBTQ+社群的台灣吉立亞醫藥（Gilead）經理彭國書則表示：「為了更了解跨性別族群，我們曾邀請熱線的志工分享跨性別族群面臨的困境，這也讓我們更加相信企業應該打造共融的職場環境，讓多元個體都能被理解與尊重。很高興這次可以帶領台灣與其他國家的同事一起來參加遊行，用行動表示支持！」
表演活動的部分，則有變裝皇后飛利冰於遊行開走前氣勢開場，飛利冰用三首表達對於逝去者們的弔念，最後也用「姐妹」送給台下的人，可以成為跨性別者的兄弟姐妹，成為跨性別者的後盾。下半場由去年的表演嘉賓黃小愛將二度站上跨性別遊行舞台，用「最好的時光」，盼接下來的每個時光，都能成為跨性別者最好的時光。公開出櫃的跨性別樂手Rachel與P!SCO樂團於帶來壓軸演出，以自己的音樂作品對台灣跨性別社群打氣，走出一段跨性別的路！
最後，總會的奧莉薇與南部辦公室的志工，分享熱線舉辦的跨性別活動，陪伴跨性別社群的心路歷程，期待能夠成為跨性別者的後盾，透過陪伴、教育與倡議等方式改善跨性別者的社會處境。讓曾因為二元性別框架而在生活中感到不自在的人，以及所有想要自在做自己的人能夠用自己最舒適的樣子，成為繽紛社會的一份子。讓我們一起同行，跨越性別框架，走一段讓所有人都能夠自在且安心的路，讓世界變得更多元美好。
[Post-Event Press Release] The 5th Taiwan Trans March in 2023: 5,000 People Walked a Transgender Journey Together
On the evening of 27 October 2023, the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association (Hotline) organized the 5th Taiwan Trans March in Ximending, Taipei. Over 5,000 individuals participated, surpassing the 3,000 attendees from the previous year, solidifying this event as the largest transgender pride parade in Asia. The parade's theme for this year was "Walking a Transgender Path Together," aiming to encourage ongoing societal awareness of transgender issues and the embrace of gender diversity.
During the parade, Hotline invited transgender individuals to share their personal stories to increase public understanding of their experiences. Deven, a transgender male, highlighted the anxiety transgender individuals often face in the workplace regarding pronoun usage and restroom facilities. He called for more neutral language usage and for the creation of all-gender-friendly restrooms to improve the workplace environment. Volunteer Alice discussed the challenges transgender individuals encounter in healthcare settings, from initial registration to receiving medical treatment, due to discrepancies in gender markers on identification documents. She emphasized the importance of Hotline's identification stickers to reduce anxiety among transgender individuals when accessing healthcare resources. Besides, openly came-out transgender actor Miya shared their personal story, encouraging everyone to embrace their uniqueness and be proud of themselves, even if they don't fit into society's traditional frameworks. Additionally, Ms. Weng, a teacher from Lujiang Elementary School in New Taipei City, expressed her hope for using education to dispel fear and misconceptions about transgender individuals in society. Comrades, including Yu-Xuan from Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR) and Taiwan Non-Binary Queer Sluts, who offered assistance on issues related to law and gender identity, also took the stage to voice their support.
This year, Taiwan Trans March received international support and blessings. The Hotline invited transgender migrant workers Chane and Jessy from the Philippines to share their stories in hopes of inspiring global change. Besides, Solange Dekker, the 2023 Miss International Queen from the Netherlands, and Enkhmaa Enkhbold, the Executive Director of the Mongolian LGBT Center, provided encouragement to those advocating for transgender rights.
It was noteworthy that a number of corporations backed the Trans March for the first time this year. “Pride is essential for us as a means of expressing our passion for gaming,” noted Blizzard Entertainment Taiwan, Activision, and King, who have long championed the LGBTQ+ community. The remarkable games crafted by these partners offer not only millions of players worldwide an epic entertainment experience but also create a world teeming with joy and unity, allowing individuals to explore their true selves.
Furthermore, Mr. Peng, the general manager of Gilead Sciences Taiwan Branch, a long-standing LGBTQ+ ally, expressed, “To learn more about the transgender community, we’ve invited volunteers of Hotline to our office to share the challenges faced by the community. Gilead recognizes the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace environment where all individuals are not only understood but also respected. I am thrilled to lead colleagues from Taiwan and worldwide in this parade, demonstrating our unwavering support through tangible actions.”
In terms of performances, drag queen Fei Li Bing opened the parade with a moving tribute to those who have passed away and a call for unity, hoping to create a brotherhood and sisterhood among the attendees. In the second half of the event, Huang Xiaoai, last year's guest performer, returned to the stage to express her hope for better times ahead for transgender individuals through the song “A Flash and How It Lasts” (the song title means “the best time” in Mandarin). Besides, openly out transgender musician Rachel and the P!SCO band delivered a powerful closing performance, using their music to uplift the transgender community in Taiwan and encourage them to walk a unique transgender path.
At the end of the event, the Hotline's coordinator of transgender issues and volunteers from the southern office shared their journey of accompanying and advocating for the transgender community. They expressed their hope to be a source of support for transgender individuals and to improve their social circumstances through companionship, education, and advocacy. They aim to empower those who have felt uncomfortable due to the binary gender framework and all individuals who want to be their true selves, making everyone part of a more diverse and inclusive society. Let's walk this path together, transcending gender norms, and create a world where everyone can be comfortable and at ease