Taiwan is the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. In the city of Taipei, there are many great places where LGBT history was made. So follow the rainbow! Let's explore the journey towards the equal rights of LGBT community in Taiwan from 1980s to today.
The tour starts from “Rainbow Starting Line”, a pavement art piece in front of Taipei City Hall Square, also a significant landmark honoring the history and achievement of the equality for LGBT community.
Then the tour continues with a visit to National Taiwan University, the top 1 university in Taiwan also the first school where Taiwan's first gay student club was established.
Across the street is Shuiyuan MarketandGongguan Shopping District, the students' favorite place to eat, you can find some locals' hidden foodie gems, too.
Treasure Hill Artist Village is another place that you should not miss, especially when you are an art lover. The village was lauded by a New York Times report as one of Taipei' s must-see locations.
Of course, you will not miss an opportunity to visit the famous Gin Gin Store, the first LGBT culture shop in Asia advocating gender equality, which has become a spiritual icon of LGBT community.
Rabbit God Temple is another highlight of this tour, which is the only temple dedicated to Rabbit God, the deity who manages marriage and relationship for homosexual people. Whether you are single or taken, you can always pray to Rabbit God for finding your soul mate or a good marriage.
After visiting the temple, you will proceed to visit another significant site in the history of LGBT movement, 228 Peace Memorial Park. The park was Taipei's major gathering place for gay men in the past, also the starting point of the first parade of Taiwan Pride.
Before heading off to the last stop, you will pass by Ketagalan Boulevard, the gathering point of the parade of Taiwan Pride in October. In this boulevard, we witness the achievement of supporting LGBT rights, and the indomitable spirit of the activists in history.
The last stop of the tour is Ximending Shopping District. The iconic “Rainbow Six” is a pavement art piece symbolizing the idea of respect, equality and diversity. Across the street is the “Red House”and the famousXimen Red House Outdoor Bar Area, where locates the most popular gay bars and restaurants. It is a place where you can have a glimpse of gay nightlife.
The tour ends at Ximen Red House Outdoor Ba