Rainbow Island Tour – New Taipei City section

The Rainbow Island Tour got under way in Kaohsiung on the 18th August and on 6th September arrived in New Taipei City. The tour contact person, A-duan said: "Today we have come to the outlying areas of New Taipei City to let gay kids know that homosexuality is not something you only see on television. We are here to provide information to anyone who needs it, and of course to put forward our hand in friendship!"

Today marks the 10th year of Taiwan Pride! However, over the past decade same-sex marriage has yet to find its way into parliament or have any importance attached to it by the Legislative Yuan. In order to distinguish this years Taiwan Gay Pride procession on October 27, the Taiwan LGBT Pride Community organized ‘Rainbow Island Tour’ two months before the event. It is hoped that the ‘Rainbow Island Tour’, will attract the participation of grassroots movements and the people of Taiwan, step by step, fighting for gender equality in Taiwan.

With the rainbow flag flying in support of gender differences and for same-sex marriage rights, this section of the tour passed through Ruifang, Shifen, Pingxi and Jingtong. The tour encouraged lots of public interaction and group photos, which helped to create lots of warmth and fun along the way. With the blistering heat of the sun, after walking all the way from Pingxi to Jingtong everyone was drenched in sweat. However, with rainbow flags held high, and lots of useful discussions about related issues, no matter how hard the going, everyone agreed that some day same-sex marriage would be given the importance and status it deserves. Even more important, however, is that supporters of the cause are beginning to stand up and be counted, expressing their position, and ensuring that their voices and actions are both seen and heard.

PeoPo 公民新聞

Rainbow Island Tour – New Taipei City section (by CJ azurechang)

URL: http://www.peopo.org/news/100517

(以下為中文對照)

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彩虹環島接力-新北市的小旅行 ( 湛藍排骨 )

8月18日高雄出發的「彩虹環島接力」，9月6日來到新北市。活動聯絡人阿端說：「我們今天來到新北市偏鄉地區，要讓這裡的同志小朋友知道，同志不是只有在電視上才會出現的，我們就活生生地站在這裡。當妳／你需要資源的時候，我們會伸出援手！」

今年台北同志大遊行邁入第10屆，十年了！但「同性婚姻」在這十年中仍然登不上國會殿堂被立法委員重視。為了讓今年10月27日的遊行能夠更有識別度與暖身，台灣同志遊行聯盟提前兩個月舉辦「彩虹環島接力」，希望透過在地社團與參與民眾一步一腳印，一起為台灣的性別平等盡一份力。

這場活動經過了瑞芳、十分、平溪與菁桐，一路上用彩虹旗表達性別友善、支持婚姻平等權的訴求，與支持的民眾互動，透過「同志婚姻加油讚」和合照的方式，使得這趟小旅行充滿溫馨。雖然太陽炎熱，從平溪一路走到菁桐的路途讓我們汗水淋漓，但拿著彩虹旗與標語、討論著我們關心的議題，再怎樣努力下去，我們都知道，有一天，對同志友善的婚姻平等權會到來，更重要的是支持的人勇於表達自己的立場，讓聲音與行動被聽見與看見。

為擴大服務範圍，自2010年4月起，PeoPo每周精選三則公民報導及相關活動與發展，翻譯成英文摘要，讓更多關心台灣公民新聞的朋友，瞭解台灣在地大小事。