[Post-Event Press Release] 7th Taiwan Trans March 2025

The 7th Taiwan Trans March took place at 6:45 p.m. on October 24, 2025, at the 228 Peace Memorial Park under the theme “Beyond Prejudice, Shine Diversity.” This year’s march brought over 3,500 people into the streets and drew the participation of more than 50 gender and human rights organizations from Taiwan and abroad.

First launched in 2019, the Taiwan Trans March has now entered its seventh year and remains one of the most important trans-focused events in Asia. This year has been especially tough for transgender communities worldwide: in the United States, multiple LGBTQ+ inclusion policies have been rolled back, and in the United Kingdom, recent Supreme Court rulings have created new challenges for transgender women. Transgender people have again become targets of political and social attacks on the international stage. 

In Taiwan, prejudice and discrimination against transgender people remain embedded in daily life. In the past year alone, a well-known Taiwanese writer living in Japan was forced to come out, and earlier this year, a Filipina transgender woman was denied entry and subjected to discriminatory treatment at a nightclub in Taiwan. Incidents like these remind us that the lived realities of transgender people still urgently need to be seen and understood.

As a civil society organization committed to advancing LGBTQ+ equality, the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association (hereafter, the Hotline) continues to use the Taiwan Trans March as a platform to increase transgender visibility and open space for meaningful social dialogue.

Despite these headwinds, the Hotline stands firmly with Taiwan’s transgender community. We call for continued public attention to urgent issues such as excessively high barriers to changing legal gender markers and the abolition of mandatory sterilization surgeries, as well as discrimination and exclusion in education, healthcare, and the workplace. Together, we seek structural and cultural change to reduce prejudice and improve understanding in Taiwanese society.

This year’s theme, “Beyond Prejudice, Shine Diversity,” also reflects a spirit of unity both within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. The Hotline urges LGBTQ+ people to stand shoulder to shoulder. Only through mutual understanding and support can we resist attempts by conservative forces to divide us and keep the equality movement growing through dialogue and action. We also call on the broader public to break out of rigid gender binaries, to shine a light on every unique life, and to work hand in hand toward a future of diversity and inclusion.

1. Hosts and Performers from Transgender and Gender-Diverse Communities

A defining feature of this year’s march program is that all emcees and performers came from transgender and gender-diverse communities. Main stage hosts Stella Ku (哲志) and Freya (橘子), as well as parade float hosts Joan Li (孟孟) and Fei Fain (飛帆), brought tremendous energy to the event. Special guest performers Nana Master (那那大師) and Diva Teatime (女神下午茶) delivered powerful, unapologetically proud performances that electrified the crowd.

The Hotline also invited Janet (黃明真), a transgender teacher who received the 2024 Excellent Teacher’s Award from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, along with three transgender home-care workers, Tai (小太), Mew (兔兔), and Aya (芽芽), as well as Bala (芭樂) and Tom (湯姆) from the Hotline. Together, they shared deeply personal experiences and challenges across education settings, workplaces, and the medical/surgical process.

Tai (小太), a transgender home-care worker, emphasized that transgender people, like everyone else, work hard, act with professionalism, and provide care with genuine warmth: “Being transgender is not only an identity label. We are also people who stand on the front line, supporting and brightening other people’s lives.” Teacher Janet (黃明真) encouraged transgender individuals to live bravely and authentically. She also reminded the community that no one is truly alone — there will always be people standing with you — and that every person deserves love and respect. Bala (芭樂), a Hotline volunteer, spoke openly about the emotional and physical difficulties experienced during surgery, reflecting on the profound impact medical procedures can have on both body and mind. Bala raised the question of whether Taiwan’s gender marker requirements could become more flexible, so that fewer transgender people are pressured into undergoing invasive surgery just to have their identity recognized. Tom (湯姆), another Holine volunteer, speaking on behalf of the Hotline, reaffirmed the organization's long-standing position: mandatory surgery requirements for legal gender recognition must end. He also condemned malicious, divisive rhetoric online that pits transgender and cisgender communities against one another, and called for solidarity rather than hostility.

2. International and Taiwanese Gender-Rights Groups Gather in Solidarity
 

International allies from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines joined to share messages of support, emphasizing that defending transgender rights, freedoms, and inclusion is a shared global goal. In Taiwan, numerous gender-equality and human-rights organizations came together on site—over 50 groups from home and abroad participated—to express their support for the transgender community and gender equality (Please see the list of participants later).

Among them, two groups that work directly on transgender-inclusive services spoke on stage: He Shiun Chen (陳鶴勳), supervisor at the Garden of Hope Foundation’s Center for the Prevention of Multiple Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence, and Min Chia Chen (陳敏嘉), chairperson of the Taiwan Association for Transgender Medicine. Speaking from hands-on experience, they described how transgender-inclusive policies can and should be advanced within healthcare systems and social services. They emphasized the importance of improving medical care and support networks so transgender people can access comprehensive services with dignity. They also stressed the need to deepen public understanding of transgender experiences and resource needs, and to continue engaging government agencies to build more inclusive, trans-affirming policies.

3. Corporate Partners Show Their Support
 

This year’s corporate partners include long-time supporters Gilead Taiwan, Blizzard Entertainment, Taihu Brewing, and ONE FOR WANT, as well as first-time partner LUSH, collectively demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. In a challenging climate, the visible backing of so many companies is especially precious and meaningful. As a corporate partner, Gilead Taiwan, stated:

“Gilead has long advocated for health equity. This year marks our third participation in the Taiwan Trans March—we act to overcome prejudice and embrace the limitless possibilities of every person.”

We look forward to welcoming even more partners from across sectors, so that our combined support can generate greater momentum for progress.
 

4. Setting Out from 228 Peace Memorial Park: A Symbol of Standing Together

This year's gathering point was once again the historically significant 228 Peace Memorial Park. Formerly known as “New Park,” it has long been a key social space for gay men in Taiwan and was also the starting point of Taiwan’s first LGBTQ+ Pride Parade in 2003. By starting at this same location, the Taiwan Trans March affirms that the LGBTQ+ community in Taiwan has always stood together, and will continue to stand together against division and oppression.

The march set off from the park, moved along Hengyang Road, passed Chengdu Road, and then turned right onto Kunming Street. It then turned right again and continued along Hankou Street (Sections 2 and 1), finally turning onto Huaining Street to return to 228 Peace Memorial Park. This route symbolizes a “return to our community roots — gather, regroup, and set out again together.”

Our hope is that LGBTQ+ people continue to stand side by side, across gender identities, generations, and social roles, challenging the rigid gender binary and illuminating each other's diversity. At a moment when global gender equality is under threat, from “New Park” to this year's Trans March, the Hotline renews its call:
The LGBTQ+ community has known darkness. That is why we must stand united, shine for each other, and keep moving forward.

List of Participating Organizations (in order of registration):：
 

Bi the Way‧拜坊

臺大城鄉所空間與性別末路狂花女性主義讀書會 X 空間規劃設計系所性騷擾零容忍工作小組

國立臺灣大學研究生協會

台灣性別平等教育協會

臺北市立大學性／別研究社

酷馬 MYQueer

國際特赦組織台灣分會

世新大學性/別研究社

台灣非二元酷兒浪子

社團法人台灣基地協會

社團法人中華民國諮商心理師公會全國聯合會

新北市福中跨越性別框架的友善校園教師專業社群

東吳大學性別研究社

台大女性主義研究社

政大陸仁賈性別研究社

高雄同志大遊行

台灣伴侶權益推動聯盟

羅浮童軍人權興趣小組 Taiwan LGBTQ+ Scouts

中華民國童軍臺北市第410團 Scouts of China(Taiwan) Taipei City Troop 410

台灣性產業勞動者權益推動協會

同光同志長老教會

跨青時刻

社團法人臺灣跨性別醫學學會

彩虹平權大平台

台灣紅絲帶基金會（紅樓部屋、桃園部屋、風城部屋、諸羅部屋）

真光福音教會

The T Project

Mamak檔—大馬旅台同志會

暴雪娛樂 Blizzard Entertainment

台大公衛

Trif Trans Bar / 翠芙的勸世酒吧

SEXYCLUB

台灣同志家庭權益促進會

民間司法改革基金會

手天使

臺師大性壇社

笨瓜秀

臺大醫院企業工會

G點電視

性別平等學生倡議連線

暖暖蛇青少年共學圖

社團法人台灣人權促進會

台灣廢除死刑推動聯盟

PINKS(Korean Queer Feminist Media Group)

社團法人亞洲公民未來協會

社團法人台灣情感教育協會

皮繩愉虐邦

GLance

東華花師多元文化教育碩博班

淑女俱樂部

山城性／別關注組

財團法人婦女新知基金會

台大勞工社

台師大人文學社

政大種子社

捍衛全台學權行動

Event Schedule