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With its coronavirus outbreak defeated, Taiwan hosted one of the few pride marches around the world yesterday, 50 years on from the first pride marches.

Hundreds of people marched inside Taipei's Liberty Square as music blasted and participants wore rainbow-colored face masks.

Many held placards with the names of major cities that have been unable to celebrate Pride Month because of the coronavirus.

"I'm here to march for France," Cookie, a French drag queen who has been living in Taiwan for the past six years said.

Taiwan usually holds its main pride march in October but the LGTBQ community felt it was important to hit the streets when many others could not.

"Knowing that over 475 pride events around the world have been canceled broke my heart," event organizer Darien Chen said.

"I feel it is an honor and a responsibility for Taiwan to be commemorating this very important occasion."

In recent years Taiwan has forged itself a reputation for progressive politics in a region where LGTBQ people still face prejudice and legal barriers.

The first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, the island boasts one of Asia's largest pride marches.

Post-coronavirus Taiwan hosts pride march for the world