Taipei, Oct. 25 (CNA) Around 150,000 people attended Taiwan Pride on Saturday, with organizers and participants expressing hope that the parade would help build understanding amid a growing global backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
The 23rd edition of the parade began Saturday afternoon outside Taipei City Hall, where exuberant participants gathered before splitting into two routes that looped through the capital's Xinyi and Da'an districts.
In an interview before the annual parade, Simon Tai (戴佑勳), chairperson of the Taiwan Rainbow Civil Action Association, told CNA this year's theme, "Beyond Links: More than Clicks," aimed to underscore how algorithms and online discourse shape public perceptions of gender issues.
He hopes that when people discuss LGBT+ issues online, they can strive to "truly understand differences and move past prejudice and fear of the unknown."
He also noted that over the past year, there has been a global backlash against DEI, spurred in part by U.S. President Donald Trump's second-term policies, with similar rollbacks emerging in parts of Europe.
Tai said such narratives have also affected how businesses in Taiwan approach gender-related issues and allocate resources.
Funding took a slight hit this year, he said, noting that some firms opted out compared with last year, including some Taiwan branches of multinational companies that cited cuts to DEI budgets.
