First held in 2019, the Taiwan Trans March marked its eighth year (2026). This year’s event, themed “Crossing Boundaries, Standing Together,” took place at Taipei’s 228 Peace Memorial Park on October 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The march drew more than 3,800 participants, with over 61 organizations advocating for gender equality and human rights from Taiwan and abroad. In 2026, multiple incidents of discrimination and setbacks in human rights have drawn intense attention from the general public and LGBTQI+ communities, both in Taiwan and around the world. Be it legislation or authoritative enforcement, transgender and LGBTQI+ groups are facing significant rollbacks in human rights, discrimination, and suppression. This has heightened transphobia and hostility across international borders. As walls of prejudice and division rise, we must “cross boundaries”. That means breaking through gender boundaries, connecting with allies across national borders, and combining our collective strengths in order to take down these walls.

Gender identity is merely a starting point for self-discovery. Regardless of gender identity, everyone deserves the right to live as their most comfortable and authentic self. By taking to the streets to stand shoulder to shoulder with our transgender friends, we are uniting our strengths to advance gender equality and break free of rigid gender stereotypes.

Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association (hereafter, Hotline) has consistently strived to alleviate the structural obstacles and daily hardships faced by transgender communities in the realms of family, education, healthcare, and the workplace. One example is tackling the excessively high barriers to changing legal gender documents. At the same time, Hotline provides emotional support and companionship to those who need it. This year’s theme, “Crossing Boundaries, Standing Together,” calls for overcoming the rigid gender binary system, and even more so, the alienation between people. A diverse and friendly society is enriched by our differences. We do not need to be identical to understand, respect, and support one another. We call on LGBTQ+ communities and allies to show up together, take to the streets, cross boundaries, and stand shoulder to shoulder. Together Stronger, we aim to build a Taiwan that is welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of diversity, where people can freely express their diverse genders.

1. Cross-Boundaries Collaboration: Stellar Performances and Transgender Emcees!

This year’s program highlights included much-anticipated performances by PiA Wu, winner of Best Taiwanese Female Singer at the 37th Golden Melody Awards, and Nymphia Wind, winner of Season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race. The event emcees were Miya Hsieh (謝嘉宸), a professional model, actor, and amateur women's volleyball player, along with Fei Fain (飛帆), a veteran drag queen and multi-talented creative. The duo brought tremendous energy to the stage. Leading the March float were Hotline volunteers Bernie, Yu-Ting, and TWeen- Hana BooBoo. The warm-up program also featured a lively performance by Thailand’s Alcazar Cabaret Show, adding an international dimension to the event’s energetic lineup.

2. Foreign and Domestic Gender Rights Groups Gather in Solidarity!

Allies from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines attended to send well wishes from abroad. This show of force accentuated that defending transgender rights, freedoms, diversity, and inclusion was a shared global goal. Numerous Taiwan-based gender equality and human rights organizations also gathered on site. The participation of over 67 groups from Taiwan and abroad demonstrated their support for the transgender community and gender equality. (Please see the list of participating groups below.)

Hotline also invited transgender speakers Bernie and Deven to share the challenges they had faced in educational and workplace settings, respectively. Japanese transgender activists Mika Yakushi and Tomoya Asanuma spoke about their personal experiences and ongoing efforts to advance transgender rights. Representatives from Amnesty International Taiwan and the Gender Equality Student Advocacy Network also addressed the importance of supporting transgender communities. 

Bernie, a transgender woman, shared how she had been ridiculed and bullied by her peers during her school years because her gender expression did not conform to societal expectations. “I hope future generations won’t have to spend ten years realizing they have done nothing wrong,” she said. “All we ask for is respect and acceptance.” Deven, a transgender man, spoke about his experiences in the workplace, noting that even in the absence of discriminatory intent, rigid gender binaries can still create difficulties for gender minorities. He called for more inclusive workplaces, declaring, “Less gender division at work means greater productivity.”

Mika Yakushi, a transgender activist from Japan, founded ReBit 17 years ago to support LGBTQ+ young people facing the same struggles he had once experienced and to remind them that “it’s okay to be yourself.” The organization has since worked to raise LGBTQ+ awareness and provide support to the community. “Transgender people often feel isolated at school, in the workplace and in their communities. Some nights, it can feel as though you are the only person left in the world,” Yakushi said. “But today, we have come together as fellow advocates fighting for transgender rights. By taking small steps, one after another, we can build a society where everyone is free to express who they truly are.” Tomoya Asanuma, co-representative of the Tokyo Trans March Executive Committee, urged the public to look beyond stereotypes, listen to each individual’s voice, and support one another. He expressed hope for a future in which everyone can live authentically and embrace their individuality.

Peng-Fei Wu (吳鵬飛), Equality and Anti-Discrimination Campaigner at Amnesty International Taiwan, emphasized that rights relating to gender identity have long been protected under international human rights law. “We must hold policymakers accountable, push for an end to mandatory surgical requirements for legal gender recognition, and secure the passage of anti-discrimination legislation as soon as possible,” Wu said. “With a stronger human rights framework in place, we can carry this momentum beyond Taiwan.” Kai-Han (楷瀚) and Jonathan, representatives of the Gender Equality Student Advocacy Network, shared how rigid gender-binary rules on campus had made it difficult for them to find spaces where they could feel comfortable being themselves. They called for greater attention to the challenges faced by gender-diverse students, improvements to educational policies and campus environments, and the creation of more gender-inclusive schools.

3. Corporate Partners Show Their Support!

This year’s corporate partners included long-time supporters Gilead Sciences Taiwan, Blizzard Entertainment, ONE FOR WANT and Taihu Brewing, as well as a new partner, Portico Media / GagaOOLala. These sponsorships and partnerships demonstrated their recognition of and commitment to gender equality. These companies declared their firm stance on diversity and inclusion through concrete actions, such as supporting LGBTQI+ events.

Blizzard Entertainment stated: “Pride is vital to us—it is one way we express our love for gaming.” By standing shoulder to shoulder with the Taiwan Trans March, Blizzard Entertainment puts its core corporate value of “strength in diversity” into practice. It also shows that they’re celebrating the unique, authentic self of every partner and gamer worldwide, who will jointly build a world in which everyone can belong. Gilead Sciences Taiwan expressed their belief that “Health and dignity should not differ due to gender identity. We look forward to moving beyond labels and frameworks, so that everyone can comfortably be themself.” Hotline looks forward to welcoming more corporate partners from across sectors to pool our strengths and build momentum for progress.

4. Set Out from the 228 Peace Memorial Park: Cross Gender Borders and Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with LGBTQ+ Communities!

This year's gathering point was once again the historically significant 228 Peace Memorial Park. Formerly known as the “New Park,” it has long been an iconic social space for gay men in Taiwan. It was also the starting point of Taiwan’s first LGBTQI+ Pride Parade in 2003. It symbolizes LGBTQI+ communities and allies coming together in difficult times of human rights rollbacks. Together, we crossed borders and stood shoulder to shoulder to resist discrimination and oppression.

The marchers gathered at the 228 Peace Memorial Park. The route began on Hengyang Road and down Chengdu Road. It continued onto Kunming Street and Hankou Street (Sections 2 and 1), then turned onto Huaining Street and back to the 228 Peace Memorial Park. This was a metaphor for a “return to our community roots — gather, regroup and set out again.”

 

• Event Rundown:

• Participating Groups  (In alphabetical order):

Bi the Way．拜坊

Dell Pride

G點電視 G Dot TV

Mamak檔—大馬旅台同志會

PrideLab Hong Kong

TIWA台灣國際勞工協會

女神卡卡臺灣粉絲團 LADY GAGA TAIWAN

中華民國諮商心理師公會全聯會

手天使

世新性／別研究社

台大勞工社

台北同心扶輪社

台灣人權促進會

台灣光寰協會

台灣同志家庭權益促進會

台灣伴侶權益推動聯盟

台灣性別平等教育協會

台灣性產業勞動者權益推動協會

台灣非二元酷兒浪子 Taiwan Nonbinary Queer Sluts

台灣紅絲帶基金會（紅樓部屋、桃園部屋、風城部屋、諸羅部屋）

台灣基地協會

台灣跨性別自尊連線 Taiwan Transgender Self-Respect Coalition

台灣綠黨

民間司法改革基金會

皮繩愉虐邦

全球綠人台灣之友會

同光同志長老教會

性別平等學生倡議連線

東吳大學性別研究社

東吳大學學生會

政大陸仁賈性別研究社

政大種子社

政大學生會

首爾酷兒文化節組織委員會

香港山城性/別關注組

捍衛全台學權行動

桃園彩虹野餐日

泰國觀光局台北辦事處 / Tourism Authority of Thailand Taipei Office

真光福音教會

高師大性別教育研究所所學會

國立臺灣師範大學性壇社

國際社會主義道路(ISA台灣)

國際特赦組織台灣分會

婦女新知基金會

彩虹平權大平台

淑女俱樂部

清大彩虹同志社

笨瓜秀

超酷俱樂部

愛滋權促會

新北市立福和國中跨友善教師專業社群

暖暖蛇青少年共學團

臺大城鄉所末路狂花女性主義讀書會

臺大學生會性別平等工作坊

臺北市紀錄片從業人員職業工會

臺灣原住民族同志聯盟協會

臺灣彩虹公民行動協會

臺灣跨性別醫學學會

臺灣撒旦主義聖殿

暴雪娛樂 Blizzard Entertainment

灣島皇后

 

• Related Events

ONE FOR WANT | Limited-Time Charity Group Buy

• 15% of each order total will be donated to support Hotline.
• Event Period: From now until October 31, 2026, 23:59
• Website: https://oneforwant.tw/hotline2609

 

Taihu Brewing | Limited-Time Charity Cocktails & After Parties

• 25% of the price of each special cocktail will be donated to support Hotline
• Participating Locations: Taihu Ximen, Taihu Xinyi
• Sales Period: October 27, 2026 – November 10, 2026

 

Locker Room | Trans Solidarity Party

• Date & Time: Friday, October 30, 2026 | 21:00 – 03:00
• Location: Locker Room (No. 34, Neijiang St., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City)
• Show Times: 22:30, 23:30 (Subject to change on-site)
• Admission: NT$1,000 (Includes 2 drink coupons; enjoy 50% off admission with designated 2026 Trans March merchandise)

 

T&N Party | Transgender & Non-Binary Party

• Date & Time: Friday, October 30, 2026 | 21:00 – 02:00+
• Location: Trif Trans Bar / DAYBREAK Coffee (1F, No. 110, Mengjia Blvd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City)
• Admission: NT$300

 

HomoPleasure | QooPa: Lady With A Tail 

• Date & Time: Friday, October 30, 2026 | 23:00 – 05:00
• Location: B1, No. 249, Sec. 1, Fuxing S. Rd., Daan Dist., Taipei City
• Admission: NT$600 (Before12:00a.m.) / NT$800 (After 12:00 a.m.)

 

Crab Crab Center | OCCUPRIDE Taipei Pride After Party 

• Special Offer: On the night of the Trans March (October 30, 2026), present any Trans March item or photo at the OCCUPRIDE Party ticket counter at Riverside Live House (Red House, Ximen). Post an Instagram Story tagging @taiwanhotline, @Occupride.tw, and @crab_crab_center to receive a limited-edition "Crab Crab Center" pin (while supplies last). On-site ticket purchases also enjoy a 10% discount!
• Date & Time: Friday, October 30 & Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 21:00 – 02:00
• Location: Riverside Live House, Ximen Red House (No. 177, Xining S. Rd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City)