Taipei Gay Pride Parade 2012

[Guest fountainhall]

Just a reminder that this year's Gay Pride Parade is on Saturday 27 October. More than 30,000 have turned up over the last couple of years, and at least as many are expected this year.

 

For those interested in clubbing and partying, there will be three nights of revelry on 26, 27 and 28 in different venues -

 

http://www.taiwan-pride.com/v01/index2.html

[Guest]

Just a reminder that this year's Gay Pride Parade is on Saturday 27 October.

Unfortunately, I shall be in Europe at that time. However, if anyone in Asia has the flexibility to make a side trip to Taiwan, please just look at this thread to see some reasons to go (& if you go, please take a camera).

http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/7404-2011-taipei-gay-parade-a-blog/

[Guest fountainhall]

I'll be there - camera at the ready. And I now know what kind of photos you like, so will do my best to satisfy your 'curiosity'

[fedssocr]

I really seriously considered visiting for Pride, but ultimately decided to visit at the end of Nov instead. Look forward to the report.

[Guest fountainhall]

Unfortunately I won't be going to the three major parties - too late for me, alas, but I am sure they will be heaving with some of the most gorgeous bodies in all of Asia

 

For anyone thinking of flying over for the week-end, I have checked hotel availabilities, There are still plenty of rooms in lots of hotels at all price ranges. And China Airlines still has economy seats at Bt. 11,930 through their website, but agents probably have better deals. Cathay Pacific has a web fare at Bt. 12, 360 which allows a Hong Kong stopover on the way back.

[Guest fountainhall]

I'm leaving for Taipei on Thursday and will be all set for the Gay Pride Parade on Saturday. The iPhoto on my laptop is still not fixed, alas, and so I can not edit my pics until I return to BKK after a few days in Hong Kong. So I'll post a full report and pics around Nov 2. In the meantime, I'll try and post a little teaser the day after the Parade.

[Rogie]

So I'll post a full report and pics around Nov 2. In the meantime, I'll try and post a little teaser the day after the Parade.

 

Both full report and 'teaser' eagerly awaited.

 

I'm not going to say "Enjoy your trip" because the chances of you NOT enjoying it are pretty slim!

 

I hope the boys will be wearing their speedos again this year. Please please no board shorts.

 

In the wiki entry (link below) there is a picture of a very nice-looking young man walking along the beach - personally I think those shorts make him look ludicrous but that's just my opinion.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boardshorts

[Guest]

Hope you have a good trip & thank you for covering the event.

[Guest fountainhall]

Woke this morning to a brilliantly sunny day with a lovely breeze. Clouds are starting to appear but the forecast for tomorrow looks good - cloudy with intermittent sun.

 

Mind you, that's the BBC Weather site's forecast, and I learned some years ago not to place too much faith in that! As I was sitting in my Taipei hotel room watching a typhoon hurl its wind and rain along the streets, the BBC Weather site had that day's forecast as bright sunshine! So to double check, I looked at the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau which is also predicting sun and clouds - should be perfect weather for the Parade.

[Guest fountainhall]

As promised, here is the preview. Once I get access to the iPhoto on my desktop at the end of the week, I’ll have more details and more and better pics - with a special section for z909!!

 

In the meantime, let me say the Parade yesterday was bigger and longer than last year. I read in one of the papers this morning that 50,000 had turned up, against 30,000 last year – although Gay Star News claims the number was in fact 65,000!

 

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/10/28/2003546269

http://www.gaystarne...gay-pride271012

 

The weather was overcast but very hot and humid. Again, the Parade was split into two routes and I just had to choose which one to go with. Unfortunately, the route had been changed. Whereas last year the one I followed went in a circle resulting in few hold-ups for traffic, this time it snaked around with lots of long stops when everyone bunched up making pics quite difficult. Unlike last year, though, both sections came together for the last 400 meters or so – and that’s when everyone just joined in and had a big ball!

 

The crowds lining the streets were much more densely packed than last year. And the eye-candy was just magnificent!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Thank you for posting these superb pictures Fountainhall.

 

My favourites include:

The guy with the silver Chinese letters on his back, leading down to a snugly fitting pair of green and white trunks.

Also, the rather fit gentleman in blue and white Aqux trunks, with red shoes.

The rather snug "PrivateStructure" pair.

[Moses]

fountainhall thank you for great and fast report!

[fedssocr]

So is the whole parade guys in swimsuits? Or is that just what gets photographed?

[Guest fountainhall]

Haha! No, only a small group of 100-150 out of the 50,000+ who attended. But they do tend to make the best photos I'll post a greater variety of photos at the end of the week.

[Guest thaiworthy]

So is the whole parade guys in swimsuits?

 

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

 

Thank you for the photos, Fountainhall. I am going to have to fight Z over the guy in red shoes, I like him, too. Hope you are having fun. It sure looks like you are. Looking forward to the rest of the photos. Don't spare us any guys in bikinis, please.

[Guest]

So is the whole parade guys in swimsuits?

This is what some of us like. They're quite nicely decorated in some cases too. Overall, I find these photos are terrific.

[Bob]

Overall, I find these photos are terrific.

 

Ditto. Makes me want to go back to Taipei and see the event in person.

[KhorTose]

I loved the pictures, but really wish you had brought back free samples for your friends.

[Guest fountainhall]

Now why would you think I'd forget my friends? I'm bringing this one back - specially for you

 

[Guest]

The big one in pink obviously couldn't find any speedos to fit.

[Guest fountainhall]

It would be some blow job, though

[fedssocr]

The big one in pink obviously couldn't find any speedos to fit.

 

So he just went naked! What a scandal! I think I am going to really enjoy my week in Taiwan.

[Guest thaiworthy]

I think I am going to really enjoy my week in Taiwan.

 

The one in pink is obviously a ladyboy. You are going to get a big surprise.

[Guest]

I'll post a greater variety of photos at the end of the week.

Looking forward to the end of the week even more than normal.

[Guest fountainhall]

Now back in BKK where I can edit the photos, here is a larger selection (with some by special request!).

 

As mentioned in the earlier post, it was an amazing afternoon. Word has clearly got out around the region that Taipei is THE Parade. It’s amazing to think that Hong Kong, which is a much more open city, can manage to get around only 2,000 participants. Singapore is not allowed to hold a Parade but it’s Pink Dot get-together did assemble around 15,000 this year. Yet, for Taipei to increase in numbers from 30,000 last year to anything between 50,000 – 65,000 this year is just extraordinary! And Taipei’s Parade is only one of several that take place in cities around the island.

 

Because this Parade now attracts so many participants, it is split into two routes that join only at the end for a small concert and some speeches. Beforehand, I saw lots of university groups – and I think they ended up in the other Parade as I missed them in the one I followed, unfortunately! But there were so many good-looking guys and everyone was having such fun, the eye-candy was almost secondary – although not quite!

 

Contrary to what the photos may portray, only a very small percentage of the guys were in speedos and other skimpy pants. Similarly, not many were dressed up in special costumes. Most of the marchers were simply in T-shirts and shorts and jeans, like most of those watching from the pavements. But I was surprised that some guys this year did quite openly advertise their sexual preference with rainbow ‘Tops’ and ‘Btms’ on their arms!

 

I hope the pics give an idea of the variety of guys and girls who took part, as well as the enormous fun which everyone had. We should not forget, though, that the Taipei Parade is privately organized with no commercial gay enterprises behind it, and it always has a social message to get through to the media, the public and the government. This year it was to promote equal marriage rights for gays. Taipei’s mayor has said he is in favour of a more progressive policy towards the LGBT community, but has been slow to act. A bill to legalise same-sex marriage has been before parliament since 2003, but never moved forward. Hopefully, the solidarity shown by the marchers will help persuade the government to move faster.

 

I did have one surprising encounter during the Parade. About to take a photo, one of the marchers touched my arm. “You’re from Bangkok, aren’t you?” he asked. Totally staggered, I turned to see a very cute young guy – but hadn’t the faintest idea who he was! It turned out we’d been chatting on one of the gay networking sites and he’d recognised me from my photos. I’d tried without success to call him the previous day and just assumed he didn’t want to meet. But he said I ‘must’ call him again. And so we met a couple of days later!