Key facts
- Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an received an angry reception at Taiwan's Pride parade.
- The reception followed a police raid on the Commander D gay bar.
- Police detained 51 people and arrested the owner after the raid.
- Pride organizers revised the event's theme to address the raid's impact.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an faced an angry reception at Taiwan's annual Pride parade on Saturday, just weeks after police raided a city gay bar. The raid, which led to the detention of 51 people and the arrest of the bar's owner, has drawn criticism in Taiwan, a country that legalized same-sex marriage in 2019 and is known for its LGBTQ+ rights. Chiang, who arrived late and stayed briefly, apologized for the impact of the raid and promised a rigorous investigation and discipline. The event's organizers revised this year's theme to address the historical trauma of state oppression faced by gender-diverse communities. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and President Lai Ching-te also attended the parade, with Lai emphasizing that public authority should not instill fear.