In pictures: Taiwan celebrates first Pride parade since legalisation of same-sex marriage

Taiwan became first Asian nation to legalise same-sex marriage in May

Thousands of people took to the streets of Taipei for the first Taiwan Pride parade since same-sex marriage was legalised in the region.

Organisers of the event said approximately 200,000 people participated in the event on Saturday 26 October, which saw marchers walk along a route that ended outside the Presidential Office.

In May, self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province, became the first Asian nation to recognise same-sex marriage.

Two years prior, Taiwan’s constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples should have a right to marry, with the amendment to the law coming into effect five months ago.

Click through the gallery above to see pictures from Taiwan’s first Pride parade since same-sex marriage became legal.

The case for Taiwan’s law on same-sex marriage to be changed was brought to the nation’s constitutional court by gay civil rights activist Chi Chia-wei.

In 1986, Chi became the first person in Taiwan to come out as gay on national television.

While waving a large rainbow-coloured flag from a balcony during this year’s Taiwan Pride, Chi expressed his happiness over the recent legalisation of same-sex marriage in the region.

“We used to be worried and fearful, but we have accomplished it, so we are all joining the Pride parade with joy,” the activist said.

Since the legalisation of same-sex marriage in May, more than 2,150 same-sex couples have wed in Taiwan, governmental data outlines.