TAIWAN - Nov 18, 2002 Wang Ping, secretary general of GSRAT (Gender/Sexuality Rights Association Taiwan), was awarded the title of Honorable Citizen by Taipei city Mayor Ma Ying-jeou in a ceremony held today which recognized fourteen outstanding citizens. Chief of the bureau of city affairs, Lin Cheng-hsiou, said that the awards, now in their 11th year, honored not only personal achievements but also civic values of tolerance and diversity.Wang Ping's activism began in the women's movement two decades ago. She eventually became a voice for gay and lesbian community groups on issues relating to Taiwan's sexual minorities, culminating in the production of the 2002 Report on LGBT Human Rights in Taiwan. She remains consistently vocal on matters relating to AIDS, surrogate motherhood, tongzhi (gays, lesbians, transgenders) and other minority groups. Taipei city has been a sponsor for the annual local Gay and Lesbian Festival for the past three years. |