TAIPEI – Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on April 20 offered her congratulations to Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind for winning  the latest season of American reality television show RuPaul’s Drag Race, the first person from East Asia to take the crown.

Ms Tsai and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party have championed LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer+) rights in Taiwan and, in 2019, the island legalised same-sex marriage in a first for Asia.

“Congratulations to you, Nymphia Wind, for being so accomplished in the difficult art form of drag, and for being the first Taiwanese to take the stage and win on RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Ms Tsai wrote in English on social media.

“Right after being crowned queen, you said, ‘Taiwan, this is for you.’ Taiwan thanks you for living fearlessly.” she added.

Taiwan’s capital Taipei hosts East Asia’s largest Pride march every October. In 2023, Taiwan’s Vice-President Lai Ching-te, who won the election as the island’s next president in January, took part in the Pride march, becoming the most senior government leader to attend.

Nymphia Wind, 28, was already a well-established artiste on Taiwan’s thriving drag scene, often wearing over-the-top outfits inspired by bananas, and has done shows at Taiwanese temples and photo shoots at wet markets dressed as the fruit.

Stars from Drag Race, which has just ended its 16th season, also come to Taiwan to perform.

Taiwan’s openness on LGBTQ+ issues stands in marked contrast with its giant neighbour China, which claims the island as its territory.

While same-sex relations are not illegal in China, same-sex marriage is, and the government has been cracking down on activists and depictions of LGBTQ+ people in the media. REUTERS