Taipei, Oct. 2 (CNA) An annual parade of the gay, bisexual and transgender (GBT) communities will be held Oct. 13 in downtown Taipei to showcase the "rainbow power" of these communities whose members are often discriminated against, parade organizers said Tuesday.
The parade, which is entering its fifth year and is expected to draw over 10,000 participants, will make its way down Zhongxiao East Road and end in the square behind Taipei City Hall, where a stage will be set up for music performances, said Wang Ping, chief convener of the parade.
Taiwan's GBT communities ask for anti-discrimination, equality, diversity and respect with the parade, which can also be seen as a platform for them to directly dialogue with other citizens, Wang said.
From a humble beginning of only 1,000 participants in the inaugural 2003 parade to more than 10,000 participants last year, the parade has established itself as the biggest of its kind in Asia, said the president of the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association, who uses the alias Gofyy.
"It's true that the movement in Taiwan still has a long way to go, but we are very proud at the same time to say that it plays a leading example compared to other Asian countries, such as Japan and Thailand, " said Gofyy.
To boost the visibility of the event, popular local singer A-Mei has been named the rainbow ambassador of the parade, Gofyy said.