Another reason why I like Taiwan....

I can't wait until they can do this in Singapore, Malaysia and other asian countries....

For the very first time the Rainbow Flag will be raised in an official ceremony in Taiwan an indication that the island off mainland China is growing more tolerant of gays.

The flag will go up in front of Taipei City Hall on September 17, marking the start of "Queer Friendly Taipei" and in another first the city's Department of Civil Affairs is a major sponsor of the event.

LGBT groups have been holding the celebration for the past seven years, and each year until now the city has rebuffed efforts to hoist the flag at city hall.

This year LGBT leaders were expecting another letdown, but the city surprised them by agreeing to the flag raising and funding. When the festival turned up in the civil affairs budget some city councilors and conservative groups were outraged.

Yeh Jie-sheng, the department's Deputy Chief said the city was sponsoring the event to stress its respect for minority groups and cultural diversity.

I lived in Asia for 5 and 1/2 years - in Singapore and Hong Kong -- and there is a huge gay awakening going on right now. While Singapore is officially hostile to gay rights - I have never been in a place with more gay people...I used to call it the gay capital of Asia. It was the government, not the people, who were hostile to gays. Taiwan gives me hope that on an official level things are changing.