【Press Release】
2024 6th Taiwan Trans March: Stay and Step Up, Join Us on the Journey to the Future
October 25, 2024
The Taiwan Trans March, which was first held in 2019, is now in its sixth year (2024) and remains one of the few trans-focused marches in Asia. This year’s theme, "Stay and Step Up, Join Us on the Journey to the Future," aims to invite the public to join in the march to show their support for the transgender community and to work toward a future of gender equality. On the evening of Friday, October 25, more than 2,500 people and over 40 gender and human rights organizations participated in this year’s Trans March.
Since Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, the social situation of gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities has improved. However, as part of the broader LGBTI+ group, the transgender community still faces numerous challenges. According to the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association's "2023 Living Situation Survey of the Transgender Population in Taiwan," transgender individuals continue to encounter varying degrees of difficulty in their daily lives, workplaces, and healthcare settings. Additionally, the legal requirements for changing gender markers on official documents in Taiwan remain stringent, requiring psychiatric evaluation and the removal of reproductive organs, which places a heavy burden on transgender individuals in terms of health, finances, and time. Although some transgender individuals have successfully challenged these regulations through legal proceedings, gaining the right to change their gender markers without surgery, this has sparked intense discussions between cisgender women and transgender individuals on social media.
As an organization dedicated to gender equality, the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association hopes that through the Trans March, the transgender community can be more visible and, therefore, foster dialogue. We also hope to unite more supporters of the transgender community so that transgender individuals feel the strength of social support and encouragement to continue moving forward.
Zoey Chung, one of the lead organizers of this year's Transgender March, highlighted that while Taiwan has made strides on issues concerning gay and lesbian communities, public understanding of transgender identities is only just beginning. She urged participants to capture and share their experiences from the march, spreading messages of support for the transgender community and inspiring others to embrace their true selves.
Another lead organizer, Mei-Ying, shared her journey as a cisgender ally, expressing her belief in the transformative power of sincere stories and conversations. She introduced the upcoming book Gender Diversity Universe, a collection of transgender life stories, and encouraged attendees to engage authentically during the march as a way to advance a future of gender diversity.
1. Transgender and LGBTI+ Hosts and Performers
One of the highlights of this year’s Trans March is that all stage hosts and performers come from the transgender and LGBTI+ communities, including stage hosts Shu-Hong and Juzi, Viva and Feifan, who will lead the parade float. There will also be performances and speeches from members of the transgender and LGBTI+ communities. Guest performers include drag queen RICO and Chen Rui-Sha from the popular YouTube channel "BlackXueXue," who deliver exciting dance and singing performances.
Transgender performing artist Huang Chia-yeh shared that gaining visibility as an actor is already challenging, but as a transgender man who has not undergone surgery, it is even harder to be recognized as a male actor. Transgender woman Xin-Yu also recounted her struggles after coming out; during her transitional phase, she faced job discrimination, with some companies even pressuring her to cut her hair to "fit the company image." Lacking family support, she had to rely on odd jobs for survival. She is now a taxi driver and promotes gender inclusivity by displaying gender-related items in her car, helping to raise awareness of gender issues in society.
2. International Allies Share Their Support and Blessings
This year’s Transgender Pride Parade also received strong international support, bringing blessings to Taiwan’s transgender community. Hua, the organizer of Thailand’s Transgender Pride, expressed her belief that when transgender individuals can thrive freely, everyone in society benefits, regardless of gender. She extended her gratitude to allies, highlighting that their support makes the community safer and brings love, freedom, and equality to the world. Finally, she expressed hope for those who have yet to accept transgender people, affirming that the presence of transgender individuals is indelible and encouraging resilience and unity for the future.
Miss Jessy Silva, a Filipino transgender high school English teacher, emphasized that transgender people, like everyone else, have dreams and goals, with the difference being that they strive to “be themselves.” She reminded transgender individuals not to be limited by external definitions, as true beauty comes from being authentically oneself. She called on society to respect transgender individuals and encouraged them to continue moving forward with pride in their identity.
Ms. Tomato Hatano, representing Transgender Japan and organizer of the Tokyo Transgender Pride, also sent a message of blessing from afar: “Congratulations on the successful Transgender Pride Parade in Taiwan! Although anti-trans sentiment is spreading worldwide, making these challenging times, let us speak out together to make the world a better place!”
3. Gender and Human Rights Organizations Rally Together
Representatives from Taiwan’s Non-Binary Queer Sluts, the Taiwan Association Transgender Medicine, and the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association shared their experiences in advocating for gender equality, offering encouragement to the transgender community.
YY from the Taiwan Non-Binary Queer Sluts emphasized the organization's dedication to raising visibility for non-binary identities in Taiwan and supporting local non-binary individuals. In light of the recent online backlash against transgender rights, YY called for more comprehensive LGBTI+ education and expressed support for policies allowing gender marker changes without surgery, as well as anti-discrimination legislation to protect non-binary and transgender individuals’ rights and safety. The group also launched the “2024 Taiwan Non-Binary Community Survey” to better understand the needs of the non-binary community and reaffirm their commitment to both the non-binary and transgender communities.
Zack, a representative of the newly founded Taiwan Association Transgender Medicine, noted that the organization was established this year by a group of doctors addressing the unique healthcare needs of transgender people in Taiwan. Zack highlighted that in Taiwan, gender marker changes still require medical intervention, with current resources and protocols less cohesive than those in the U.S. or Europe. The association plans to refine diagnostic standards and align them with international developments to better support the medical needs of transgender individuals.
Tom, from the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association, shared his own experiences as a transgender man who began his transition at 21. Facing financial struggles in graduate school, he had to rely on loans to undergo chest surgery, later pursuing gender-affirming surgery. However, he encountered difficulties with post-surgical care due to limited understanding among medical personnel, underscoring the need for stronger transgender healthcare rights. Tom called attention to the prejudices often expressed in public discussions about surgeries and emphasized that sharing life stories and open dialogue can bridge understanding. He recounted a moving experience from a community workshop with an elder who thanked him for bringing this awareness. Tom expressed gratitude to volunteers and encouraged all to keep hope alive, noting that the simple act of living authentically is a powerful form of advocacy. The Hotline, he assured, remains steadfast in fostering gender equality dialogue.
In addition to these groups, over 40 gender and human rights organizations participated in the event to show their support for the transgender community and gender equality (see full participant list below).
4. Increased Support from Corporate Partners
This year’s Trans March has garnered more support from corporate partners, including Blizzard Entertainment, Gilead Taiwan, My Hair Hair Transplant Clinic, Taihu Brewing, and ONE FOR WANT. These companies have shown their support for LGBTI+ events through concrete actions, expressing their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Blizzard Entertainment, one of the corporate partners, stated: "Pride is incredibly important to us; it's how we express our passion for gaming." Blizzard, which has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, was awarded the "Taiwan LGBTQ+ Inclusive Workplace" certification last year. The company's games not only offer an epic entertainment experience to millions of players worldwide but also provide a joyful and unifying space where players can discover themselves.
Additionally, this year’s Trans March media partners include Kyt International Media, which assists with outdoor advertising, and Assembly Global, which supports digital media exposure, helping to spread awareness of the march to a wider audience.
3. New Gathering Point at 228 Peace Memorial Park
In previous years, the Taiwan Trans March gathered at the Red House Plaza in Ximending. However, with the number of participants increasing significantly year by year (reaching 5,000 in 2023), the gathering point for this year’s event will be moved to the historically significant 228 Peace Memorial Park. The park, formerly known as "New Park," has long been a crucial meeting place for gay men and was also the starting point of Taiwan's first Pride Parade in 2003.
This year’s Trans March gather at 228 Peace Memorial Park and proceed along Hengyang Road, pass through Chengdu Road, turn right onto Kunming Street, continue along Sections 2 and 1 of Hankou Street, and finally turn right onto Huaining Street, returning to 228 Peace Memorial Park.
This year, over 2,500 people joined the transgender pride march, where organizers aimed to expand the public’s understanding of gender in Taiwan, challenging traditional binary frameworks. Through this march, the organizers hope to create a society where everyone, regardless of differences, can live freely and comfortably.
List of Participating Organizations (in order of registration):
台灣同志諮詢熱線協會
Life Under Umbrella
手天使
台灣無性戀小組
台灣性產業勞動者權益推動協會
全球綠人台灣之友會
社團法人台灣人權促進會
台灣性別平等教育協會
婦女新知基金會
彩虹平權大平台
國立臺灣師範大學性壇社
臺大女性主義研究社
台灣廢除死刑推動聯盟
真光福音教會
淑女俱樂部
國際特赦組織台灣分會
羅浮童軍人權興趣小組 Taiwan LGBT Scouts
感染誌 HIVStory
社團法人台灣基地協會
小民參政歐巴桑聯盟
同光同志長老教會
台灣非二元酷兒浪子
國立政治大學陸仁賈性別研究社
諮商心理師公會全國聯合會
臺大學生會性別工作坊
臺灣大學研究生協會
臺大城鄉所空間與性別末路狂花女性主義讀書會 X 空間性騷擾零容忍小組
台灣賽博
Trif Trans Bar
台灣國際酷兒影展 Taiwan International Queer Film Festival
台灣伴侶權益推動聯盟 TAPCPR
吳宇萱
吉立亞醫藥跨步走
臺灣跨性別醫學學會
台灣綠黨
社團法人台灣同志家庭權益促進會
酷公衛
民間司法改革基金會
跨多元集結
Mamak檔—大馬旅台同志會
暴雪娛樂 Blizzard Taiwan
台灣紅絲帶基金會
台灣綠人青年協會
板中裙眾聯萌
台灣性諮商學會
姆貓教
Event schedule: