[1/5] Friends greet each other at the annual Taiwan's Pride parade in Taipei, Taiwan October 28, 2023. Lai then joined the DPP delegation, marching behind a banner reading "Democracy Supports Gays" as supporters yelled out "Hello Mr. President". The streets of central Taipei were packed for the annual parade, the 21st since it began and including go-go dancers and drag queens. Taiwan's openness on LGBTQ+ issues stands in marked contrast with its giant neighbour China, which claims the island as its own territory. While same sex relations are not illegal in China, same sex marriage is, and the government has been cracking down on activists and depictions of LGBTQ+ people in the media.

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Persons: Ann Wang, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Ben Blanchard, Editingby Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive, DPP, Kuomintang, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China