Gay area in taipei
TAIPEI — Under a moonlit canopy of bare wood branches, two men in black leather jackets lean against a brick wall. Their exchange is wordless, with only slow movements forward: A lingering gaze, twice over the right shoulder. A hand, stretching over the tense distance between them. One’s fingertips meet the other’s thigh, gradually wrapping around as a claim over the other’s body for the night. But just as a breeze rustles the canopy above, the other clicks his tongue almost inaudibly. He pushes himself off the wall and away from the grips of this dark park corner, emerging into the streetlamp-lit expanse of Taipei’s streets.
I think of this scene, from the 1995 Taiwanese film “Where is the Love?” by the lesbian director Chen Jo-fei, whenever I walk through 228 Peace Park, formerly known as New Park, in central Taipei. In the latter half of the 20th century, it was one of the city’s most well-known homosexual cruising districts, where men picked up other men through a social code of gazes and grazes.
The news media painted the park as a den of iniquity. As preliminary as 1959, United Daily News published exposés of a “homosexual culture of prostitution” in New Park,
Written by Yu Dung Shiu
Image credit: Kicior99, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When we reflect of a characteristic gay man, we often produce a white boy with a cute encounter, perhaps with feminine elegance, wearing an oversized white T-shirt tucked into skinny jeans. We might also imagine a more traditionally masculine gay man: a well-tanned hunky lad with six-pack abs. However, many diverse kinds of same-sex attracted men exist in the pan-gay customs, and only a few in the community live up to these usual stereotypes. The subculture that interests me the most is the so-called “bear community.” I possess been studying Taiwan’s “bear community” for around a year now. Once I told my ally that I was researching ‘bears,” my friend was perplexed about why a sociology student was interested in animals. However, the bear community is one of the most popular subcultures within the gay group. With the growth of their identity, more people hold got to recognize them, and as a result, they have formed a stabler community with their own social spaces like bars or nightclubs, online dating apps and online platforms. They possess also developed their aesthetic standards
Taiwan
Experiencing Taiwanese Food
Taiwanese cuisine knows many influences from Japanese and Chinese cuisine and many from specific (southern) Chinese regions. One of Taiwan’s specialties is soup dumpling, Xiao Long Bao. These aren’t just dumplings, because their skin is really thin and filled with tasty broth and meat, fish and/or vegetables. The authentic Xiao Long Bao comes from Shanghai, but the Taiwanese contain perfected the recipe. The superior restaurant to eat the leading soup dumplings is Din Tai Fung. The original restaurant is located on Xinyi Road in Taipei. Another dish you must try is Taiwanese beef noodle soup! If you like eating street food, stinky tofu is a must-try. It’s a strong-smelling fermented tofu, which you can find in night markets or food stalls on the streets. Another world-famous thing you can’t miss in Taiwan: bubble tea. Since its invention in the 1980s, it has become increasingly popular and you can now find it all over the world. It’s a tea-based sip with milk, sugar (optional) and chewy tapioca pearls.
Tips and Safety Considerations for LGBTQ+ Visitors to Taiwan
As an LGBTQ+ traveller, you will feel very wel
Ultimate Taipei LGBT Map
Words: Sebastian Morgan
New in town? Taipei’s LGBTQ scene has a deserved reputation as one of the largest and most welcoming in Asia. So if you’re feeling a small too spoilt for choice, we’ve got you. On this map you’ll locate a colorful selection of our highest queer picks in this city of millions. From bars and boutiques to clubs and cafes, there’s plenty to explore. What are you waiting for? (Read More: Lgbtq+ fest Hopping this Fall? Here’s Why Taiwan Should Be Your First and Only Stop)
Best Gay Bars in Taipei
1. Abrazo Taipei
Towing the line between block and supper club, Abrazo is one of Taipei’s most popular spots with the young queer crowd—and it shows it on weekends. Come in the day for contemporary fare and an afternoon cocktail. Reach a little later for some top-forty fun and a little wiggle on the dance floor.
2. Commander D
Kinky, S&M-themed bar in Ximen, dressed in all the trappings you’d expect. There’s chains and leather in the walls, bars hanging from the ceilings. Approach the bar staff and ask nicely bough and they might even tie you up. Crowd is young, drinks are stiff, and doors open until 3 a.m. on weekends. Leave yo