Taipei: Taiwan-themed floats made a significant appearance at the New York City Pride March and the San Francisco Pride Parade on Sunday. These floats highlighted Taiwanese culture with performances by Taiwanese drag performers in New York and featured Taiwan's mascot, Oh Bear, in San Francisco.According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwan float in New York was themed around the "betel nut beauty" and was curated by Nymphia Wind, a Taiwanese celebrity drag queen. The float included performances by other Taiwanese drag artists such as Tina Banana and Yolanda Mesula. Nymphia Wind, the first East Asian winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, expressed that her performances often incorporate Taiwanese elements to celebrate local culture. She shared her desire to rediscover and showcase Taiwan's beauty and diverse cultures through her art.Tina Banana emphasized that despite the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan, societal acceptance remains incomplete, highlighting the importance of visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. Yolanda Mesula added that continual presence helps combat fear stemming from unfamiliarity.The Taiwanese contingent in New York's procession featured Tom Lee, head of Taiwan's representative office in New York, along with office staff, overseas Taiwanese, and students. The Ministry of Culture noted that the event celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, highlighting its cultural connection with the city.Simultaneously, a Taiwan float made its debut at the SF Pride Parade under the banner "Taiwan in SF," led by the mascot Oh Bear. Sponsored by Taiwan's Tourism Administration and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, the float showcased iconic Taiwanese foods and endemic wildlife. A Taiwan tourism booth was also set up at Civic Center Plaza.David Chih-hsiang Wu, head of Taiwan's representative office in San Francisco, participated in the parade for the first time since assuming his post. He highlighted Taiwan's international recognition for democracy a nd inclusiveness, inviting visitors to experience its Pride celebrations.Taiwanese Americans for Equality also joined the parade with "Team Taiwan," receiving enthusiastic support from other participants. Tang Yun-wei, the group's marketing director, encouraged continued promotion of Taiwan through such events.The SF Pride event, now in its 56th year, adopted the theme "Resistance in Action!" as a call to celebrate the community's resilience, according to the organizers.