Under current regulations, transgender ppl in #Taiwan who wish to change their ID gender must undergo surgery to remove their reproductive organs. But the medical procedures can cost over 30k USD & pose huge health risks — about 80% did not go under the knife and change their gender marker.

We interviewed those involved in war trauma care training & the preparation of underground hospitals.

The WHO published guidelines on underground services earlier this yr, drawing on lessons learnt from the Ukraine war. That serves as the foundation of TW’s planning. 2/

www.who.int/europe/publi...

Last year, Liu and Lee — along with other members — founded an NGO serving the immigrant communities in Taiwan.

“National security issues are important and indeed need to be discussed and taken seriously, but we should find a way to approach it without judging based on a person's identity.”

Due to the negative views of China, Liu tried to hide his family background his whole childhood. It was only after college that he started reconciling with his mom.

“Do you remember I asked if you’d blame me for what I did?”
‘I said no… it’s important to know how to protect urself.’ 3/

With Beijing’s growing espionage efforts & military threats, Taipei called China a “foreign hostile force” for the 1st time in 2025. The strained relation has put families like them in an awkward position.

“(We) are deemed as potential spies,” said Lee, who also came from a China-Taiwan family. 2/

But some said they had submitted the proof over 2 decades ago when they moved to Taiwan; some said they were never asked to turn in such proof, until now. Many didn’t keep all those documents after they got their Taiwan ID and it’d be difficult to re-apply. 2/

But recent debates have changed their minds.

“I realized that those with disrespectful comments… they are the problem. So [I] don’t have to feel guilty about expressing my thoughts,” said RapShark, the first rapper to criticize the misogynistic remarks w a diss track.

📹: youtu.be/-G6nAgNWFKQ?...

The controversy also shed light on female rappers’ experience in an industry long dominated by men. Some women told us they wanted to talk about their uncomfortable experiences but worried that it would damage their relationships in the industry. 2/

📹: youtu.be/-G6nAgNWFKQ?...

There are #baseball fans who’re not happy w #cheerleaders grabbing the attention. They believe athletes should be the focus.

But those in the industry told us cheerleaders have brought in >30% increase in attendance for the team, and that resources will eventually go back to the #athletes. ⚾️

Sunnie Lu (陸筱晴), now a manager at #Rakuten Girls, got her first gig as a #cheerleader in 2010. She said the industry has profoundly transformed — ppl used to see them as “show girls”, but now they’re “stars”.

“Now, cheerleading is a stepping stone to show business,” she said. 3/

And they have grown a huge fanbase – who’d go to fan meetings, buy front row seats at games & merch.

Mizuki Lin (林襄) at Wei Chuan Dragons is one of the most popular #cheerleaders in #Taiwan. She told us she received huge media attention after joining the industry ~4 yrs ago. 2/