落實平權訴求 政府低調支持 Implementing Equal Rights
今年邁入第七屆的高雄同志遊行，是繼台北同志遊行後，第二個舉辦的同志遊行，已突破過去紀錄，達到萬人以上，於11月26日圓滿落幕。此次遊行不但持續延伸婚姻平權訴求議題發聲，也主打職場及校園平權，要求政府落實《性別平等工作法》以及《性別平等教育法》，促使法案精神能真正於職場和校園。此外，高雄市政府依法規定，除升國旗以外，其他旗幟為配合活動或特定議題，因此市府在高雄同志大遊行這天升彩虹旗，具有表達支持平權運動的意義。同時指出，高雄市在同志人權促進上，走在全國前面，率先推出伴侶註記；高雄市長陳菊也強調「相愛是人權」，明確支持同志權利。
Following Taipei, Kaohsiung was the second city to organize a gay parade, and it marched into its seventh year on the 26th of November. This year’s parade had tens of thousands marching, breaking its previous record. This year’s parade continued to advocate its appeal for equal rights, focusing especially on equal rights in the workplace as well as on the school campus. They demanded that the government thoroughly implement both the Act of Gender Equality in Employment and the Gender Education Equality Act, promoting the equality at the workplace and at school.
In addition to the National Flag, the rainbow flag was also raised in celebration on this day, representing the support for equal rights. This also indicated that Kaohsiung is one of the pioneering cities in promoting human rights. The city had earlier allowed same-sex couples to register as partners, the first in the country. The mayor Chu Chen explicitly expressed her support for gay rights, saying that “Love is a human right.”
2016高雄同志遊行主視覺(Source: 高雄同志大遊行臉書)
葉媽媽到場聲援 長老教會青年陣線夥伴加入 Forming Alliances
一位因陰柔氣質遭受同學霸凌的國中生，2004年在一次跟老師說要去洗手間後，再也沒有回來的葉永誌同學，葉媽媽雖痛不愈生卻選擇在第一屆高雄同志遊行，以行動站出來支持同志遊行。今年，她再度站在台上高喊：「孩子們，不要氣餒。為了婚姻平權，你們要繼續努力，繼續加油！」。葉媽媽這次選擇加入遊行，主因是對於前陣子婚姻平權反對者各式扭曲荒誕的言論感到憤怒。她說：「我非常的生氣。因為國家、因為社會讓你們失望了！真的讓你們失望了。這個社會欠你們很多，沒有辦法給你們一個基本的人權！」
In 2004, a junior high schooler, bullied for his effeminate disposition, was found dead in the restroom at school. His mother, Mrs. Yeh, chose to stand out to support the cause in action in the first year when the parade was organized. This year, she again took the stage at the parade, calling out to the audience, “Children, do not be discouraged. Fight on, for marriage equality.” She chose to participate this year because she had been enraged by all kinds of ridiculous rhetoric and comments from those against marriage equality. She said, “I feel furious because our government, our society has let you down. The society owes a lot to you and fails to provide you with even the most fundamental human right.”
到場支持的除了葉媽媽之外，長老教會青年陣線也到場支持，表達以基督徒的身分和同志們站在一起，在台南場發言稿中表示檯面上看見基督教反同團體的言論，無法代表所有基督徒的聲音，台灣基督長老教會過去幾十年來，一直效法耶穌基督的精神，與弱式及非主流族群站在一起，替他們爭取權益及平等。
Besides Mrs. Yeh, the Youth Alliance of the Presbyterian Church was also present on the day of the parade, standing by the gay community as Christians. They said that anti-gay comments from certain Christian groups are by no means representative of the voice of every Christian. The Presbyterian Church has, in the past ten years, followed Christ’s example, standing by the minority groups and fighting for their rights and equality.
遊行的終點是同志團體尚要努力的另一個起點。無論異性戀或同性戀，請用更理性態度及觀點審視平權，而非以傳統單一家庭或宗教信仰價值觀，強迫他人接受甚至影響基本人權。
The end of the parade is only the starting point of another journey for equal rights. Regardless of your sexual orientation, try to look upon equal rights with more rationality instead of imposing a single-minded family or religious value on other people as to affect their human rights.
