Written by Sheng-mei Ma. This article reads Splendid Float (2004) as an allegory for Taiwan’s uncertain political and cultural identity. Through the dual life of a drag queen and Taoist priest, the film links gender fluidity, folk funeral rituals, and queer performance to Taiwan’s status as a marginalised “ghost island,” and explores themes of belonging, loss, alterity, and national ambiguity.
Written by Mu-Hsi Kao Lee. The article explores the experience of reading Taiwan Travelogue as a translated historical yuri novel. Kao Lee reflects on how the narrative, despite its clear genre and straightforward plot, evokes a sense of both satisfaction and longing in the reader. The article highlights the story’s ability to interweave historical and cultural details with the protagonists’ emotional connection, examining themes of desire, identity, and the complexities of relationships within a specific historical context.
Written by Yo-Ling Chen. This article examines how anti-gender groups in Taiwan have appropriated and leveraged Donald Trump’s anti-trans rhetoric during his presidential campaign to bolster their own agenda. It focuses on statements and actions from various anti-gender groups, highlighting their populist strategy that frames transgender rights as opposing public opinion.
Written by Jung Chen. This article begins by examining the current Assisted Reproductive Act in Taiwan. Its exclusion of Tongzhi couples’ leads many to seek transnational surrogacy services. Recognising the controversy surrounding the services in LGBTQ+ community, the author argues for ‘flexible moral boundaries’ to distinguish between ‘problematic’ and ‘ethical’ surrogacy practices.
Written by Uma Baron. Taiwan has long been recognised as an international beacon for LGBTQ+ rights. This article analyses the existing diplomatic power and future potential of Tongzhi diplomacy as part of the agenda of preserving and expanding Taiwan’s presence in international spaces.
Written by Yo-Ling Chen. 2023 was a big year for Taiwan’s transgender rights movement. This article traces important legal cases regarding transgender rights in 2023, and explores how the growing public visibility of transgender issues and legal consensus around the need to abolish compulsory surgery for changing one’s legal gender play in the aftermath of the 2024 elections.
