Politicians taken to task for lip service on gay rights

TaipeiTimes.com – Staff Writer, with CNA

Election candidates should do more than speak up for gay rights so that they can secure votes from members of the gay, bisexual and transgender communities, representatives from these communities said yesterday.

“Taiwan’s society has become more aware of gay rights, and many election candidates want to woo votes from this group. However, they have to back their words with action rather than just offering lip service,” said the president of the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association, who goes by the alias Gofyy.

The US-based Kinsey Institute estimates that 10 percent of the human population is gay, bisexual or transgender, he said, adding that this made such communities a focus group politicians cannot afford to ignore.

More often than not, however, Gofyy said, politicians and candidates say they support gay rights, but fail to come up with substantial opinions and policies.