ZONE:

Declaring a stance that will improve the standing of homosexuals in Taiwanese society, Chen Wen-yen, 39, hopes to become one of ten representatives of Taipei's Second (South) District following Election Day, Dec 1.

Around eight years ago, then President Lee Teng-hui was elected Taiwan's leader in the first democratic election Chinese history has ever experienced. Chen hopes to take the vast improvements in human and political rights the island has seen in the last decade to new heights. He realizes, however, the battle won't be easy.

"Taiwan really has no gay rights," he says.

"We can't marry, and if a Taiwanese has a foreign partner, it is very difficult for that person to get a visa to live here."

In the political sea of Legislative Yuan candidates, who vary from actors to seasoned politicians, Chen's voice is a refreshing yet stern reminder that an elected body should consider all citizens, including gays.

"We find the government always trumpeting its wonderful reforms and how the democratic system here is in the same league as North America or Europe, but as far as gay rights are concerned, we're even behind some Asian nations. The laws were written for straight people."

An engineer by trade, Chen opened the highly popular gay meeting spot The Source in 1997. It was the challenges of owning a gay business, accented by frequent police raids that built up his courage to come out and do something to better the lives of gays and lesbians across the island.

"A lot of people in Taiwan, unfortunately, think gays are sick, and the police are one example of this. The police have been so rude to gays, in my establishment and elsewhere. They've taken people for supposedly indecent acts and then taken them to the station for photos, forcing them to recreate what they were doing. They've never done this to straight people."

An attractive man with razor-sharp debate skills, Chen points out that the bigger picture he hopes for is to transform the image of homosexuals in local society.

"Gays and lesbians work just as hard as straight people. We are your co-workers, customers, friends and neighbours. And we deserve respect and a voice in the government."