Taiwan is an exercise in frustration. Technically speaking, it isn’t a country. While there is talk of declaring independence, the Taiwanese government claims to be the legitimate rulers of what we know as China. Most of the world, including China, politely disregards (so to speak) the claim. So you have China saying it is “China,” and you have Taiwan saying it is “China.” Cue painfully stretched-out internationally awkward moment
For those of you who failed geography, Taiwan is a good-sized island off of China’s southeast coast and billed as the “Heart of Asia, with technology-drenched Taipei as the technology-drenched capital. For those of you who failed political sociology, never having been under one disastrous hard-line Communist ruler after another, Taiwan charged ahead on all cylinders to become one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan countries and one of its most industrially advanced.
Here’s another factoid: Of all Asia, Taiwan one of the most progressive when it comes to LGBTQ rights; 76% of the population is in favor of LGBTQ equality, 53% of in favor of same-sex marriage. It was the first nation first to propose same-sex marriage legislation, and while that maneuver is currently locked up in bureaucratic-debate hell, over 65,000 attended the last Taipei Pride, the largest turnout for such an event in all Asia. Taiwan is horse you want to bet on.
And visit. A city of sections, Ximen is Taipei’s gayborhood. Translating as “Red House,” don’t be too surprised to see the English translation, rather than Ximen, as an address in your guidebooks — which you will need. Refreshingly, Taipei is in a grid configuration, but the city blocks are huge, and the alleys within them tend to wander.
After having made it to Ximen (points for you!) get ready for the natives to tell you their antique Western nicknames — Webster, Samuel, Eggbert, no lie — since, as in the rest of Asia, the “fashion” of English far outstrips its practicality. Those names also showed up as a reaction to English-speakers having a hard time getting around the intricacies of Chinese pronunciation.
Pride kicks off in late October, and gay clubs like Jump, Fresh, Empress Lounge, Café Dalida, Commander, Commander D (no-smoking and/or fetish), D Cup (bear bar), and Xanadu are all part of a cornucopia of fabulousness that spangles the ‘hood. FYI, Taipei being crammed as it is, every club counts as smallish. Another hotspot: the actual Ximen/Red House, a de facto gay shopping center that lent its name to the area that is chock-full of bars and shops to help get your gay on, Taipei-style.
Steele Luxury Travel offers discount business class flights to Taipei and offers exceptional perks and upgrade at Asia’s best hotels and resorts. Visit www.SteeleTravel.com for more information!