Social Movements

It’s Taiwan, Not China, Which Stands for the Human Rights of LGBT+ People

Lee Bo-Yi
As of May 24th, same-sex couples can get married in Taiwan. Legislation passed last week fulfills the 2017 ruling by Constitutional Court which states that prohibiting same-sex marriage is against the constitution. The passage of this law also shows that Taiwan shares the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights with other developed countries internationally, and significantly, that Taiwan is a different country than China, which has enforced regulations undermining the rights of its LGBT+ residents... Read More
EnglishGender/SexualityMay 2019Social Movements0 Comments 04 min read

Two Days of Celebrations in Taiwan with Historic First Gay Marriages in Asia

Brian Hioe
Celebrations have taken place across Taiwan in the last two days, with Taiwan’s first gay marriages taking place yesterday after the passage of gay marriage into law last week, and a mass wedding banquet held today on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office. As Taiwan is the first country to legalize gay marriage in Asia, these are the historic first gay marriages to take place in Asia... Read More
EnglishFeaturedGender/SexualityMay 2019Social Movements0 Comments 07 min read

“Fridays for Future” Protest Calling for Environmental Action Held Outside Legislative Yuan

Brian Hioe
An environmental demonstration organized by thirty environmental groups took place earlier this afternoon outside the Legislative Yuan. The demonstration proved highly visual, featuring a number of creative performances by artists. Notably, a large number of protest participants were children, as the event was framed as being part of the global “Fridays for Future” movement called for by high schooler climate activist Greta Thunberg... Read More
EnglishEnvironmentalMay 2019Social Movements0 Comments 06 min read

Joshua Wong Jailed Again in Hong Kong, Localist Activists Granted Asylum in Germany

Brian Hioe
The jailing of Umbrella Movement activist Joshua Wong seems likely to be another move by the Hong Kong government aimed at silencing political dissent, possibly as a warning for future protests. Likewise, news broke earlier this week that two localist activists, Ray Wong and Alan Li, are currently living in Germany after being granted political refugee status last May... Read More
EnglishFeaturedMay 2019Self-DeterminationSocial Movements0 Comments 06 min read

Arts/Culture

Interviews

Interview: Stuart and Lance Chen-Hayes

Brian Hioe
New Bloom editor Brian Hioe interviewed Stuart and Lance Chen-Hayes, who recently published Double Dads One Teen: A Queer Family’s Trailblazing Life in the USA and Taiwan, by e-mail, following a meeting in Taipei. Lance is Taiwan's first out gay dad and their nonbinary teen, Kalani, recently became the first Taiwanese citizen with two father's names on both an international birth certificate and an international marriage license... Read More
April 2019EnglishInterviews0 Comments 010 min read

Politics and International Affairs

DPP Presidential Primary Will Serve as a Referendum on Party’s Internal Demographics

Brian Hioe

Singaporean Fake News Law Proves Negative Example for Taiwan Regarding Efforts to Combat Fake News

Brian Hioe

The Coming Storm Regarding Asylum Laws in Taiwan

Brian Hioe

Recent Incidents Point to Increasing Chinese Influence on Taiwanese Media

Brian Hioe

Han Kuo-Yu Revives Ma Era Policy with Notion to Establish Free Economic Zones in Kaohsiung

Brian Hioe

Chinese Exchange Student Seeking Asylum in Taiwan Still Faces Possibility of Being Forced to Return to China

Brian Hioe

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