Bouncing back from a recent ruling that it was guilty of selling "indecent material," Gin Gin's, a bookstore in Taipei which specializes in gay and lesbian literature yesterday held a housewarming party as the gay community celebrated the bookstore's relocation and the Gay and Lesbian Pride Month of June.
"Since the opening of Gin Gin's six years ago, we have experienced all forms of criticism and attacks from conservative groups. Earlier this month, I was found guilty of selling gay magazines," said Lai Jeng-jer (賴正哲), the owner of the bookstore. "These setbacks, however, only reinforced the need to keep the bookstore open for the gay community."
Despite pressure and condemnation from conservative groups and homophobic people, Gin Gin's has performed well over the past six years. In addition to the bookstore, Gin Gin's also opened its coffee shop and art gallery in the same neighborhood.
PHOTO: CNA
During yesterday's party to celebrate the bookstore's moving to a bigger place just opposite the old location, the guests each brought something pink to decorate the bookstore, as a way to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York and to celebrate Gay Pride Month.
Attending the party, Ding Nai-fei (丁乃菲), an English professor at National Central University, lauded the bookstore for providing various resources for the gay community.
"The bookstore is not only an outlet for literature specializing in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues, but a place where people can meet to discuss gender issues," she said.
Famous gay writer Hsu You-sheng (?? also praised the bookstore for bringing the gay community together, and opened up more opportunities for heterosexuals to understand the homosexual world through literature.
Gin Gin's, which opened in January 1999, is one of only a few places in Taiwan committed to providing a discrimination-free environment for gays and lesbians, attendees said.
When the coffee shop and art gallery open, Lai plans to promote a "Rainbow Community" in the Kungkuan district with local businesses, who display rainbow stickers and demonstrate that they are supportive of the gay community.
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