Hundreds of protestors took to the streets of Taipei this weekend to oppose the introduction of same-sex marriage.
Members of the Rescue Taiwan Hope Alliance—an anti-gay organisation—marched along Ketagalan Boulevard condemning gay marriage and demanding that ‘pro-gay’ content be removed from school curricula.
Protestors carried placards that depicted pro-LGBT+ politicians as snakes, scorpions and tarantulas, according to the Tapei Times.
“In our view, a huge amount of controversy has already been caused, and the government is not prepared to address the issue, so it should be put aside temporarily,” said alliance spokesman Chao Ying-ling.
Gay internet celebrity Liu Yu said he was invited to the protest to consider the perspective of the Hope Alliance.
“They told us not to make a scene and that they were willing to give us two tents, while urging us not to argue and instead take a look at their ideas,” he said. “It is not too bad — of all the events I have attended, this is the first time I’ve been directly invited.”
Members of the Taipei School Education Union also attended to speak out against the gender equality section of current school curriculum guidelines.
“As teachers, we have to be willing to stand up for our consciences,” said union president Lee Hui-lan. “Teaching the idea of a ‘gender spectrum’ just serves to confuse elementary students before their natural gender identities solidify.”
Taiwan passed a draft marriage equality bill in December 2016 but it must pass second and third readings before it can become law.
