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www.ambiente.us AUGUST |AGOSTO 2010
Moving from Miami to Taipei | A Foreigner’s View & Intro.
By Michael Rodríguez Martínez
All right, take a guess as to where I am. The first couple I saw after arriving was a gay
couple, there is a healthy assortment of queer clubs and a lovely LGBTQA
bookstore/café, many “straight” establishments are generally queer friendly, and hate
speech is not tolerated. Did you guess The Castro, Greenwich Village, South Beach,
Boystown?
Well, tack on to that the fact that here workplace and educational discrimination based
on sexual orientation is illegal, that beginning in 2011 school textbooks will cover
LGBTQA human rights and discrimination, and that in 2003 the national legislature
began debating a bill that would legalize same sex marriage. “All right then, it’s
definitely somewhere in Europe,” I’m sure you’ve said.
Nǐ hǎo from Taipei, Taiwan!
I don’t think many would’ve guessed correctly without having done prior research.
Which is unfortunate, because Taipei is very queer. In fact, there is this whole other
continent called Asia (it’s a big one) in the middle of its very own gay revolution. What
that means in each country ranges from trying to legalize Sam-sex marriage in Taiwan
to fighting laws against same-sex relations in Malaysia. However, the truth is that
whether a country is just beginning its long and painful path towards equality or is
reaching its legal apex, the early 21st century has been characterized by increasingly
forceful and public pushes by our siblings in Asia to be seen, heard, and respected.
Moving from Miami to Taipei | A Foreigner’s View & Intro.
By Michael Rodríguez Martínez
All right, take a guess as to where I am. The first couple I saw after arriving was a gay
couple, there is a healthy assortment of queer clubs and a lovely LGBTQA
bookstore/café, many “straight” establishments are generally queer friendly, and hate
speech is not tolerated. Did you guess The Castro, Greenwich Village, South Beach,
Boystown?
Well, tack on to that the fact that here workplace and educational discrimination based
on sexual orientation is illegal, that beginning in 2011 school textbooks will cover
LGBTQA human rights and discrimination, and that in 2003 the national legislature
began debating a bill that would legalize same sex marriage. “All right then, it’s
definitely somewhere in Europe,” I’m sure you’ve said.
Nǐ hǎo from Taipei, Taiwan!
I don’t think many would’ve guessed correctly without having done prior research.
Which is unfortunate, because Taipei is very queer. In fact, there is this whole other
continent called Asia (it’s a big one) in the middle of its very own gay revolution. What
that means in each country ranges from trying to legalize Sam-sex marriage in Taiwan
to fighting laws against same-sex relations in Malaysia. However, the truth is that
whether a country is just beginning its long and painful path towards equality or is
reaching its legal apex, the early 21st century has been characterized by increasingly
forceful and public pushes by our siblings in Asia to be seen, heard, and respected.
LGBT/Latino/Hispanic Civil Rights unitycoalition.org |
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dying?” Apparently, that stereotype transcends nationalities. Respect also means that you
won’t hear religious, apocalyptic, or other anti-gay messages in the public sphere. Here the
Taiwanese Fred Phelpses keep their mouths shut because when it comes to hate speech,
Silence is Golden.
A walk down any street in Taipei can impart much information about Taiwanese society
itself. If you look at the buildings on either side of the road, you’ll find a postmodern
skyscraper next to a crumbling two-story shop built circa 1950. You’ll come across Taipei
101 (the second tallest building in the world), but you’ll also come across “Snake Ally,”
where they skin live snakes and gave me three shots, of blood, bile, and venom respectively,
and a fourth of whiskey that I needed after the previous three. Similarly, Gay life here is a
mixture of old and new, but with a uniquely Taiwanese flair. It’s skyrocketing towards equality
but still has important obstacles to overcome. As my year goes on I’ll write back in order to
update you on the LGBTQA scene in Taiwan and throughout Asia, but for now let me just tell
you that in Taipei the scene is queer, here, and living it up.
PS: If any of you were wondering about the food, it is amazing!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Michael Rodríguez Martínez. I was born and raised in Miami FL on September
29, 1986. Though I've studied European Studies and Legal Studies in college, I've spent
most of my professional career teaching either Spanish at my University of English in Italy
and now Taiwan. While at college, I was the Treasurer of the Pride Alliance and Men
Organized for Rape Education groups. I plan to go to Law School in the future because I
refuse to believe that a Lawyer has to sell his soul to the devil. Instead, I know that through
my career I will be able to assist those who are in need.
CLICK HERE for more Michael Rodríguez Martínez
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
won’t hear religious, apocalyptic, or other anti-gay messages in the public sphere. Here the
Taiwanese Fred Phelpses keep their mouths shut because when it comes to hate speech,
Silence is Golden.
A walk down any street in Taipei can impart much information about Taiwanese society
itself. If you look at the buildings on either side of the road, you’ll find a postmodern
skyscraper next to a crumbling two-story shop built circa 1950. You’ll come across Taipei
101 (the second tallest building in the world), but you’ll also come across “Snake Ally,”
where they skin live snakes and gave me three shots, of blood, bile, and venom respectively,
and a fourth of whiskey that I needed after the previous three. Similarly, Gay life here is a
mixture of old and new, but with a uniquely Taiwanese flair. It’s skyrocketing towards equality
but still has important obstacles to overcome. As my year goes on I’ll write back in order to
update you on the LGBTQA scene in Taiwan and throughout Asia, but for now let me just tell
you that in Taipei the scene is queer, here, and living it up.
PS: If any of you were wondering about the food, it is amazing!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Michael Rodríguez Martínez. I was born and raised in Miami FL on September
29, 1986. Though I've studied European Studies and Legal Studies in college, I've spent
most of my professional career teaching either Spanish at my University of English in Italy
and now Taiwan. While at college, I was the Treasurer of the Pride Alliance and Men
Organized for Rape Education groups. I plan to go to Law School in the future because I
refuse to believe that a Lawyer has to sell his soul to the devil. Instead, I know that through
my career I will be able to assist those who are in need.
CLICK HERE for more Michael Rodríguez Martínez
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
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I’ll be teaching
English in Taiwan
for the next year.
But I’ll travel around
the continent
learning about the
different cultures
and their respective
gay sub-cultures.
So far, I’ve met a
few Taiwanese
people that have
jumped at the
chance to teach me
about their home,
and for the next
year, I want to
represent Gay life
in Asia as they live
it, and as I see it:
as a Latino,
American, and Gay
man. So, let’s
begin with what I’ve
learned so far
about Taiwan.
English in Taiwan
for the next year.
But I’ll travel around
the continent
learning about the
different cultures
and their respective
gay sub-cultures.
So far, I’ve met a
few Taiwanese
people that have
jumped at the
chance to teach me
about their home,
and for the next
year, I want to
represent Gay life
in Asia as they live
it, and as I see it:
as a Latino,
American, and Gay
man. So, let’s
begin with what I’ve
learned so far
about Taiwan.
South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan comprise the Four Asian
Tigers: a group of countries, and a gray area (Hong Kong) that industrialized
rapidly in the latter 20th century, and now have an average income per capita on
par with Western European countries.
In spite of this, there are still very traditional elements to
each of these tigers. Singapore still has anti-sodomy laws in
place. Legal and societal obstacles are much reduced in
South Korea and Hong Kong, but the subject of different
sexualities is still taboo in these countries.
Taiwan, as I’ve mentioned, is extremely progressive, but life is not perfect for our
community here. Historically, Taiwanese culture has emphasized respect and
deference to tradition and elders. Like our Hispanic culture, the family is a
cornerstone of Taiwanese culture. Due to this, many Taiwanese feel a duty to
stay in the closet so as to not dishonor and disrespect their family by coming
out. I met a Taiwanese Lesbian couple at a local LGBTQA bookstore that were
as reticent to practice their English as I was to try my hand at Mandarin after one
day of Rosetta Stone. Yet during our chat about America, Taiwan, and being
Gay, they mentioned that while Taiwanese society values tolerance, there is a
massive gap between societal principles and how parents react when it is their
son or daughter that has comes out.
Ironically, the importance placed on respect is also beneficial to our community
in Taiwan. Respect in Taiwan means many different things, including: standing
single file at the metro station (off-center in order to allow passengers to exit the
train), and let me tell you they follow that proscription strictly; no littering; and
almost nonexistent crime or violence. This last one is a big deal. The friendly
couple’s response to a question about gay bashing was, “There isn’t any, that’s
a Western thing. By the way, is Miami really like it is in the movies, with so many
people
Tigers: a group of countries, and a gray area (Hong Kong) that industrialized
rapidly in the latter 20th century, and now have an average income per capita on
par with Western European countries.
In spite of this, there are still very traditional elements to
each of these tigers. Singapore still has anti-sodomy laws in
place. Legal and societal obstacles are much reduced in
South Korea and Hong Kong, but the subject of different
sexualities is still taboo in these countries.
Taiwan, as I’ve mentioned, is extremely progressive, but life is not perfect for our
community here. Historically, Taiwanese culture has emphasized respect and
deference to tradition and elders. Like our Hispanic culture, the family is a
cornerstone of Taiwanese culture. Due to this, many Taiwanese feel a duty to
stay in the closet so as to not dishonor and disrespect their family by coming
out. I met a Taiwanese Lesbian couple at a local LGBTQA bookstore that were
as reticent to practice their English as I was to try my hand at Mandarin after one
day of Rosetta Stone. Yet during our chat about America, Taiwan, and being
Gay, they mentioned that while Taiwanese society values tolerance, there is a
massive gap between societal principles and how parents react when it is their
son or daughter that has comes out.
Ironically, the importance placed on respect is also beneficial to our community
in Taiwan. Respect in Taiwan means many different things, including: standing
single file at the metro station (off-center in order to allow passengers to exit the
train), and let me tell you they follow that proscription strictly; no littering; and
almost nonexistent crime or violence. This last one is a big deal. The friendly
couple’s response to a question about gay bashing was, “There isn’t any, that’s
a Western thing. By the way, is Miami really like it is in the movies, with so many
people
