Gay Taiwan

Yes — same-sex marriage is legal in Taiwan. See the Legal Status panel on this page for the specifics. Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, on 24 May 2019, after a 2017 Constitutional Court ruling, and extended full joint adoption to married same-sex couples in May 2023. Transnational couples can marry since 2023, including, from 2024, cross-strait couples with a mainland Chinese partner under the same procedures as opposite-sex couples. Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation has been banned in education since 2004 and employment since 2007, and conversion therapy by medical professionals since 2018. Gender identity is protected only in education, and legal gender change still formally requires surgery and two psychiatric diagnoses, though courts have granted exceptions since 2021. Assisted reproduction remains closed to lesbian couples. Public support for same-sex marriage rose from a 2018 referendum defeat to 54 percent in 2026 polling. Taipei Pride in late October is the largest in Asia, with around 170,000 marchers, and the Red House area of Ximending is the scene's heart. Trans and intersex people have been able to serve in the military since January 2026. A heavy-handed police raid on a Taipei gay bar in October 2026 was an unusual exception in an otherwise relaxed environment.

The cities listed on this page have the most active LGBTQ+ scenes in Taiwan, typically anchored by the capital and the largest tourist cities. Each city page links to verified LGBTQ+ venues and upcoming events.

Yes — gay-friendly and gay-popular hotels are listed on each city page in Taiwan. International chains in central districts are reliably welcoming; independent boutique options are flagged where the community has verified them.

Pride events take place in Taiwan — check the events calendar on this site and each city page for the current year's dates.