Cat Thomas
Cat Thomas is a freelance journalist based in Taipei. She covers anything from culture to tech to travel, and sometimes all of those combined if she can swing it.
What you need to know
Parades, art and international DJs: Taipei gears up for a weekend of Pride events
20:04 Updating to add the LESZ Meeting and TABOO parties
On the final Saturday of October each year Taipei’s streets are flooded with tens of thousands of people marching in the annual Pride parade. The parade, now in its 16th year, has grown so large that it is split into three routes with a single start/finish point. This year’s theme (in view of the upcoming referendums on marriage equality and gender education in schools) is Tell Your Story, Vote for Equality.
Naturally, with visitors from around the region flocking to Taipei to join the march, a host of cultural events and parties are on offer. Here’s our round up of major events over the weekend. If none of these tickle your fancy, you can head to the Red House area where the bars will be hosting an array of in-house events to refresh weary marchers post-parade.
Credit: Reuters / TPG
Taipei Pride Parade 2018
The main event of the weekend is the parade itself, which runs for around four hours around Taipei city. It’s a cheerful affair and many people bring along their kids. The crowd is strong come rain or shine, but plan to bring along water, umbrellas etc depending on the weather.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018
Time: Assemble at the gathering point at 1.30 p.m. and start marching at 2.30 p.m. The parade usually ends around 5.30 p.m. back at the gathering point.
Credit:
Gathering Point: Ketagalan Boulevard (in between Gongyuan Rd. and Zhongshan S. Rd.)
Reminder: Given that there will be a large crowd, it is recommended that MRT riders get off the MRT at nearby stations and come to the gathering point on foot.
1. MRT Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station, Exit 5 or 6
2. MRT National Taiwan University Hospital Station, Exit 1 or 2
West Route (Green on map below)
Zhongshan S. Rd. (the North side) → Qingdao W. Rd.→Gongyuan Rd.→Xiangyang Rd.→Chongqing S. Rd.→Hengyang Rd.→Zhonghua Rd.→Zhongxiao W. Rd.→Gongyuan Rd.→Qingdao W. Rd.→Zhongshan S. Rd.(the North side)
East Route (Pink on map below)
Xinyi Rd.→Hangzhou South Rd.→Zhongxiao Ｅ. Rd.→Jinshan South Rd.→Ren'ai Rd.
South Route (Red on map below)
Zhongshan S. Rd. (the South side)→Aiguo E. Rd.→Hangzhou South Rd.→Xinyi Rd.→Jinshan South Rd.→Heping E. Rd.→Roosevelt Rd.→Zhongshan S. Rd. (the South side)
Credit: 臺灣同志遊行 Taiwan LGBT Pride
Taipei Rainbow Festival
This two-day outdoor market and free party event held in front of the Red House Theater in Ximending is organized by TAIWANIZE and the Taipei Culture Foundation- The Red House, (弘騏聲光有限公司), and sponsored by legendary gay club G*Star. Local performers and DJs will grace the stage and LGBT-friendly brands and businesses will have stalls set up.
When: Saturday Oct. 27: 1 – 10 p.m., Sunday Oct. 28: 1 – 9.30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Location: North Square of The Red House/ Front square by Ximen MRT Exit 1
Credit: TAIWANIZE CO., LTD.
Out in Taiwan
Hosted under the tagline “Your Pose Will Be Their Courage” (你閃亮的姿態，將成為下一個人的勇氣),celebrated international art and fashion photographer Leslie Kee’s exhibition aims to showcase the beauty and light of Taiwan’s LGBT community.
Out in Taiwan: Standing up for Equality with Fashion Photographer Leslie Kee
When: Saturday Oct. 27 to Sunday Nov. 4, 12 – 9 p.m. daily.
Admission: Free
Venue: TAGather Goods, 2F., No.41, Neijiang St., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan
台北市萬華區內江街41號2樓 (日常經典門市二樓)www.outintaiwan.tw
2018 LEZS World Tour Party－New York／Back to ‘70s Manhattan
Creative and Action (頤創藝) girls' party event company will host the LEZS Meeting (女人國)’s Pride after party which is going all-out-Studio 54 complete with a 70’s-retro neon dancefloor. Expect disco glamor, glitter, champagne and disco girls and a few celebs, plus special guest drag king Wang Newton.
When: Saturday Oct. 27, 11 p.m. – 5.30 a.m.
Admission: Pre-sale ticket: NT900 (With 1 Drink)
Tickets at door: NT1,500 (With 1 Drink)
Dress Code: ‘70s retro style
Venue: THE WALL B1, No. 200, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Wenshan District, Taipei (Gonguan MRT exit 1)
Credit: LEZS Meeting
Pose with Pearl
The Pride edition of monthly Taipei event C.U.M. (Create Ur Mmmagic) party features Pearl from RuPaul’s Drag Race plus Sira ManDonna (Drag Royalty - Thailand), Natalia Pliacam (Winner of Drag Race Thailand), Andrew Christian (International Fashion Designer) and a veritable host of local queens. Note that the venue for the Pride edition is in Ximending.
When: Saturday Oct. 27, 10 p.m. - 4.30 a.m.
Admission: NT$1,800 (US$58) on the door (inc. one free drink). Check out the events page for details on advance tickets (NT$1,500) and special packages.
Venue: Westar
8F, No.116, Hanzhong st., Wanhua Dist, Taipei City (Entry of Wonderful Theatre, H&M builiding)
10846 台北市萬華區漢中街116號8F真善美戲院入口處，H&M大樓樓上
Credit: Yin-Zhi Huang & Beven Lan
WERK: Pride & Rainbow Halloween Party/ Free outdoor after-party
Regular monthly event WERK- The Party for Boyz will be running both an outdoor and indoor party up at Triangle/Maji Square. Expect cutting-edge house music from the likes of Queen Bee, drag shows and costume contests. The indoor event has a cover charge, but you can get a discount before 11 p.m. if you are in costume.
When & Where: Saturday, Oct. 27, Maji Square: 8 p.m. – 2 a.m., Triangle: 10 p.m. - 4.30 a.m.
Admission: Outdoor Party @ Maji Square: Free
Indoor Party @ Triangle: Costumed: NT$300 (inc 1 drink) before 11 p.m.
General: NT$400 (with 1 drink) before 12 a.m., NT$800 (with 2 drinks) after 12 a.m.
Location: Triangle/ MajiMaji Square, No 1,Yu-Men Street Taipei,104 Taiwan, 104台灣台北市中山區玉門街1號花博公園
Credit: Iron Wang
Formosa Pride
Encompassing four main parties and two after parties, the Formosa Pride Party has you covered straight through from Friday evening until the early hours of Monday morning, and includes a tea dance for bears on Sunday afternoon. There are a host of International DJs and go-go boys plus Formosa Pride will sponsor a float at the parade.
The events will be in the area around Taipei 101. Venue details get released the day of each event, presumably to ticket holders, so it’s best to check out the details on their well-laid out English website: http://formosapride.com/en/schedule/
When: Friday Oct. 26 - Sun Oct. 28
Admission: Prices range from NT$1,200 for the after parties to NT$2000 for the main parties.
Credit: Formosa Pride
TABOO Pride afterparty 'Love Carnival'
Taipei’s longest-running lesbian nightclub Taboo is throwing a Pride after party at their regular venue.
When: Saturday Oct. 27, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.
Admission: Female NT$650, male NT$850 (to be accompanied by two females) includes one free drink.
Venue: 90, Jianguo North Rd, Section 2, Taipei
Read Next: Out in Taiwan: Standing for Equality with Fashion Photographer Leslie Kee
Editor David Green (@DavidPeterGreen)
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