Gay pride in Taiwan, and mainland reactions – China’s latest society and culture news
A summary of the top news in Chinese society and culture for October 30, 2017. Part of the daily The China Project newsletter, a convenient package of China’s business, political, and cultural news delivered to your inbox for free. Subscribe here.
“I hope mainland China will legalize same-sex marriage very soon!”
“I am not against homosexuality or gay marriage at all, but I think the way they dressed is too exposed and provocative.”
— From Weibo (in Chinese)
On October 28, tens of thousands of people gathered in downtown Taipei to participate in the city’s annual gay pride parade, showing support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and calling for progress on the full legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. The massive parade also drew attention and reactions (in Chinese) from mainland China.
According to Quartz, a record number of more than 100,000 people showed up for the event, which is the largest of its kind in Asia. The parade’s theme for this year was “Make love, not war — sex ed is the way to go,” in the hope that education about gender equality will be implemented more adequately in schools and in society.
Taiwan has some of the most progressive legislation on gay rights in Asia. The Saturday event marked the parade’s 15th anniversary, and was the first since Taiwan’s top court amended the region’s Civil Code in favor of gay marriage in May. While two years were given to the government to implement the decision, little progress has been made since then in changing the marriage laws to allow gay couples to register their partnership.
—Jiayun Feng
- Foreign models in China
Chinese agency denies overwork led to young model’s death / The Guardian - Gaming
China is blocking the world’s hottest video game because it lacks “core socialist values” / Quartz
Esports fans accuse ticketing site of colluding with scalpers / Sixth Tone - Automated shops
Unmanned noodle shop in Shanghai shut down by officials after only a couple of days / Shanghaiist - Aging society
Nation on road to be ‘super aging society’ / China Daily - Heat in winter
Tianjin to start winter heating early as cold front continues / China Daily - Education
App teaches teachers to interact with autistic children / Sixth Tone - Divorce
Why millions of Chinese people are filing for divorce every year / SCMP - Tea
How the Chinese fell back in love with black tea / Sixth Tone
