Following a police raid at a well-known gay bar in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, about 100 people from the queer community gathered to protest on Saturday. Police had swept through the venue “Commander D” in the Wanhua district, bringing 51 people to the station for questioning, and arresting the owner, Reuters reports. The operation is unusual, given that Taiwan presents itself as liberal and provides legal protections for sexual minorities.
A spokesperson for the relevant police precinct told Reuters that the raid was carried out on the basis of a search warrant for suspected “violations of public morality.” The 51 individuals are accused of violating a law that prohibits the willful exposure of the naked body and lewd conduct in publicly accessible spaces. The city government cited a police statement that a complaint had been received alleging that the bar might be violating public decency rules.
Direct link | Report on the raid |
Protest in front of the police station
Demonstrators walked to the police station on Sunday, peacefully but with noise, according to Reuters. One of those arrested, who asked to be identified only by the surname Wen, told the agency that police had used force. It was very frightening.
The precinct commander spoke briefly with the protesters. He said the police respect the culture of a pluralistic society and protect the rights of all citizens, while the crowd hissed. A demonstrator named Kang Yang said the city had previously described itself as queer-friendly. He said he was angry that the raid occurred during Pride Month.
24. Taiwan LGBT+ Pride on October 31
The criticism also targeted Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an. The Kuomintang opposition party politician has previously taken part in Pride marches and expressed support for the LGBT community. He is up for reelection next month.
Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019 and is viewed as a beacon of tolerance in a region where queer rights are frequently restricted or banned. The government actively markets the country as a queer-friendly travel destination. On October 31, Taipei will host the Pride Parade, considered the largest event of its kind in East Asia.
