Crowds gathered outside Taipei City Hall for Taiwan's 24th Pride parade, with politicians, families and supporters joining the colourful march. New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui reflected on Taiwan's same-sex marriage vote, while speakers urged continued work to protect equality and the freedom to live openly.

Essential Takeaways

  • A city-centre celebration: The parade set off from Taipei City Hall Plaza, with two routes looping through nearby streets before returning.
  • This year's theme: Organisers used the theme "Listen together, walk the road together".
  • A landmark still remembered: Su Chiao-hui recalled the 2019 parliamentary vote that legalised same-sex marriage in Taiwan.
  • A call to keep going: Speakers stressed that rights and freedoms need continued care and protection.
  • Families joined in: Children and parents were among the marchers, adding a warm, intergenerational feel.

Taipei Pride filled the streets with colour and purpose

Taiwan's 24th Pride parade brought a lively mix of political figures, families and supporters to the area around Taipei City Hall. The march began at 2pm, with participants setting off along northern and southern routes before gathering back at the plaza. (Focus Taiwan; Taipei City Government)

The Democratic Progressive Party contingent joined the northern route, with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui among those attending. The event was festive, but its message was serious: public support for equality matters most when it helps protect people's everyday choices. (Focus Taiwan; Taipei Times)

Su Chiao-hui revisited Taiwan's marriage equality vote

Su said she still remembers the moment she voted in parliament seven years earlier, and the cheers and tears that followed outside. Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019, a milestone that turned years of campaigning into a change in law. (Focus Taiwan; Taipei Times)

But, she cautioned, winning a right once doesn't mean it will automatically last. She argued that public institutions should help create the practical conditions for people to live as themselves, rather than leaving equality as a promise on paper. (Focus Taiwan; Taiwan Pride)

This year's theme put listening at the heart of the march

The parade's theme, "Listen together, walk the road together", gave the day a clear invitation: hear one another, then keep moving towards a more inclusive society. It was a fitting idea for an event that brings together people with different lives, experiences and hopes. (Taiwan Pride; Taipei City Government)

Other attending politicians also spoke about dignity and respect. Legislator Lin Yueh-chin referred to a police search at a Taipei gay bar earlier in October, saying that a person's identity or sexual orientation should never be a reason for humiliation. (Focus Taiwan; Taipei Times)

What visitors should know about the parade routes

The parade started outside Taipei City Hall at 2pm and split into two circuits. The northern route passed along Ren'ai Road, Dunhua South Road, Zhongxiao East Road and Yixian Road, while the southern route went via Guangfu South Road and Xinyi Road before rejoining Ren'ai Road. (Taipei City Government; Taipei Travel)

If you're planning to attend a future march, check the organisers' latest route and schedule before setting off, and allow extra time around the city-centre streets. Taipei Pride is a public event, but the route can affect local traffic and public transport, so a little planning makes the day easier. (Taiwan Pride; Taipei Travel)

The cheerful moments mattered, too

Among the families at the event were young fans of Su's children's podcast, who recognised her voice and greeted her as "Otter Mum". It was a small, affectionate moment that showed how Pride can feel both political and personal, sometimes within the same few steps. (Focus Taiwan; Taiwan Pride)

That balance is part of the parade's appeal: there are speeches and signs, but also children, colour and familiar faces in the crowd. The celebration is a reminder that equality is not an abstract debate for many people; it's bound up with family, safety and the freedom to be yourself. (Taipei Times; Taiwan Pride)

Keep an eye on official updates before attending, and make room for the march's mix of celebration and purpose.

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