>Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1993 17:11:19 +0800 (CST) >From: DL83-09 >Subject: Gays in Taiwan I'm studying in Taiwan and just recently the Taiwanese government held a hearing entitled "Who cares about gay rights?" Here is how one English newspaper reported the forum. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- MOE official condemns gays A Ministry of Education (MOE) official yesterday compared homosexuals to drug addicts and questioned whether they should be granted basic human rights. Speaking at a public hearing yesterday [Tuesday, December 28th, I think], Cheng Chung-cheng, a director of student affairs at the MOE, said: "Homosexuals should not pollute others with their relationships," adding that education authorities "do not know how to handle this problem." Cheng's statement immediately sparked heated protest from a number of people present at the hearing who said, "Homosexuality is not a disease, neither a crime nor a tumor." Six local groups later issued a joint statement protesting actions or messages which discriminate against homosexuals. They demanded that homosexuals be protected from personal attacks or discrimination in employment or education. They also requested that homosexuals be included in and protected under the "Anti-Discrimination Law." The six groups included "Between Us," "the Asian Lesbian Network," "Speak out," "National Taiwan University Gays and Study Club," "Comrades Club," and "Love and Happiness News." At yesterday's hearing, the groups also criticized Taipei City police for having insulted homosexuals in various incidents at Taipei New Park in 1990 and this year. The meeting, convened by DPP Legislator Yen Chin-fu, was held as a public forum on homosexuality. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are just a couple of notes about the article: The use of the word "tumor" is, from what I've noticed, usually a reference to problems or conflicts which can easily spread within a group, or in this case, society in general. I have heard of a few cases where people were either not hired or fired due to their orientation, but there is no law which makes this practice illegal in Taiwan. Taipei New Park at night becomes a predominately gay park. I'm not a member of any of those six groups and I don't know anything else about what happened during the meeting nor any results (good or bad) of the meeting. I am now trying to find out what is really going on via a friend of mine who is gay and has friends in the "National Taiwan University Gays Study Club." Happy Holidays a little mouse...