Taipei hosts Asia’s largest LGBT conference

Staff writer, with CNA





The largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) conference in Asia opened yesterday in Taipei, with local activists eager to learn from the experiences of other participants about combating discrimination and pursuing equal rights.

The sixth ILGA-Asia Regional Conference has drawn 300 activists from more than 30 countries, and Wayne Lin, chairperson of the event’s organizer, the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBT) Hotline Association, sees it as a chance for Taiwan to share its experiences with the world and learn how LGBT issues are dealt with in other countries.

“By learning from each other, we hope to bring our cooperation one step further and strengthen Taiwan’s LGBT activism,” Lin said at the opening of the three-day conference — being held in Taiwan for the first time — at the Chientan Overseas Youth Activity Center.

Madeleine Majorenko, head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan, said the EU sees Taiwan as a front-runner in the fight for LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex) rights and was proud to support the conference.

“Through the sharing of experience and best practices, and the discussions on subjects of profound impact, together I think we will be able to strengthen the fight against LGBTI discrimination in Asia,” Majorenko said.

The EU provided 40,000 euros (US$44,131) in funding for the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association-Asia’s regional conference.