STORY: Almost 150,000 people braved blustery rain in a boisterous and colorful celebration of LGBTQ+ equality in Taiwan's capital city Taipei on Saturday (October 25) at East Asia's largest Pride march, according to organisers.

Participants held up giant rainbow flags, singing and dancing along to music as they marched down a main thoroughfare in the city for the 23rd annual Pride parade, undeterred by drizzling rain.

"Now, not only the gay community participates in the parade, a lot of non-LGBT individuals and people from other countries have also joined the event, I think this is awesome," said a parade participant, 37-year-old service industry worker Shane Lin.

Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019 in a first for Asia and is a bastion of tolerance and liberalism in a region where the rights of sexual minorities are often either suppressed or outlawed.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (OCTOBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HOLDING GIANT PRIDE FLAG

2. PEOPLE MARCHING IN PARADE

3. DANCER DANCING ON FLOAT

4. CROWD CHEERING

5. 37-YEAR-OLD SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKER, SHANE LIN, TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS WITH PEOPLE

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 37-YEAR-OLD SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKER, SHANE LIN, SAYING:

"I am more sensitive to the change because I have been participating since the fourth Pride Day until now. Every time I see the participants, I think they are becoming more open and accepting about it, and very supportive. Now, not only the gay community participates in the parade, a lot of non-LGBT individuals and people from other countries have also joined the event, I think this is awesome."

7. WOMAN WITH PRIDE FLAG PAINTED ON FACE

8. VARIOUS OF DANCERS ON FLOAT

9. TAIPEI CITY HALL WITH FLOATS IN FRONT

10. 35-YEAR-OLD TRAVELLER FROM U.S., TASIA AHUJA, AND WIFE WAITING FOR PARADE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 35-YEAR-OLD TRAVELLER FROM U.S., TASIA AHUJA, SAYING:

"I think it's really amazing to see how much people in Taiwan are welcoming and open and not just people but also businesses and the government. Like they have a bunch of booths over there and they're talking about many issues that are relevant to people. I think it's really something that other, like an example for other people in the world."

12. TASIA AHUJA'S WIFE KISSING HER

13. PARADE PARTICIPANT BLOWING KISS TO CAMERA

14. VARIOUS OF PERSON USING BUBBLE GUN

15. VARIOUS OF PERSON DRESSED IN ANGEL WINGS

16. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING WITH PRIDE FLAGS