A global LGBT+ event was canceled on Friday by Taiwanese officials in protest after global organizers demanded that Taiwan be removed from the event’s title.
The cancellation of WorldPride Taiwan 2025 came after LGTB+ rights NGO InterPride decided to rename the event WorldPride Kaohsiung, after a town in the south of the island that was to host the gathering. It was too much for the organizers of the demonstration, as was the government of Taiwan, which regretted political interference in the event, the first of its kind in Asia, and which aimed to advance diversity and equality. In the region.
Taiwan is a self-governing democracy, which the China claims, depriving it of full participation on the international scene and restricting its diplomatic relations.
” Taiwan deeply regrets that InterPride, out of political considerations, unilaterally rejected the consensus reached by the two parties and broke a relationship of cooperation and trust. “Reacted the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release on Friday. ” The ruling not only fails to respect Taiwan’s rights and diligent efforts, it also harms Asia’s vast LGBTIQ+ community. “. InterPride did not respond to solicitations.
Taiwan had won last year the organization of this event combining marches and cultural events. The island is also among the countries at the forefront of LGBT+ rights in Asia, with the legalization of gay marriage in 2019, a first in the region.
The Taiwanese committee of WorldPride said it made this decision “ for the greater interest of the LGBTIQ+ community in Taiwan and clarified that its members would resign from their positions.
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(And with AFP)