On Saturday, October 25, 2025, the 23^rd Taiwan Pride Parade took place in grand form in front of the Taipei City Hall. This year's theme, "Beyond Links: More than Clicks - Crossing Labels and Understanding Differences," calls on society not to remain at the surface level of interaction in the digital era, but to genuinely understand the diverse life experiences of others. The parade encourages breaking through prejudice and labels, fostering authentic interpersonal connections.

Instructors and students from the General Education course "Learning English and Gender Equality from Movies" at National Dong Hwa University（NDHU）formed the team "Equality at NDHU" and traveled from Hualien to Taipei to join the parade. The course adopts film as its primary learning medium, integrating film viewing, guided discussion, and reflective activities. Through the lens of gender issues, students explore and understand diverse cultural perspectives while simultaneously strengthening their English proficiency-particularly language related to gender equality and social justice.

By participating in this year's parade, the instructors and students aimed to put the core spirit of the course into action-to see, to listen, and to support diverse voices. Prof. Te-Sheng Chang from the Department of Education and Human Potentials Development, who teaches the course, stated:

"Marching in the parade is a way for us to bring our classroom discussions into real society. We hope to bring back what we observe and experience today, and share it with classmates who could not be here in person."

This year's parade theme, "Beyond Links: More than Clicks," resonates strongly with the challenges faced by global societies today. In the midst of rising anti-diversity and anti-equity movements around the world-as well as online cultures that often reduce identities into mockery and labels-Taiwan Pride calls on the public to move beyond surface-level clicks and symbols, and to genuinely bridge differences through understanding and connection. The participation of NDHU faculty and students embodies more than support for gender equality issues-it represents the course's commitment to diversity, critical thinking, and real-world engagement.

After the event, students shared their reflections on participating in the parade. Yu-Ching Sophia Tsai, a freshman from the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, said that being able to experience the event in person was unforgettable:

"I used to only see the parade online, and finally I could be there in person！ I felt a little awkward at first, but the atmosphere was warm and inclusive. The drag queens' stunning outfits were impressive, and the dancing and chants were full of energy. It made me truly feel Taiwan's respect for diversity and openness."

Yi-Che Joshua He, a senior from the Undergraduate Degree Program of Rift Valley Interdisciplinary Shuyuan, also shared:

"It was my first Pride Parade, and I felt both excited and nervous - I didn't know what to expect, yet everything felt strangely familiar. In Taiwan's Pride Parade, we can step onto the streets for one day, without burdens, and simply be ourselves."

Yi-Che also quoted writer Ping-Yao Li: "Women deserve the right to walk freely at night; LGBTQ+ people deserve the right to walk freely in daylight." He emphasized that the significance of the Pride Parade lies in allowing marginalized gender groups to "no longer remain invisible," while fostering understanding and dialogue among different communities and creating a more inclusive social space.

This initiative was made possible with the support of the General Education Center at NDHU, which enabled students not only to learn in the classroom but also to step into society and engage with public issues firsthand. The General Education Center has long been committed to promoting gender equality and inclusive education, encouraging instructors to integrate coursework with social engagement so that learning becomes a bridge for understanding the world and connecting with others.

NDHU will continue to use general education as a foundation to promote cross-disciplinary learning on gender equality and cultural diversity. By integrating critical thinking with experiential learning, the university aims to help students develop a balanced perspective-one that values respect, understanding, and inclusiveness-and to extend the ideals of equality and diversity beyond the campus into every corner of society.

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Instructors and students from NDHU's course "Learning English and Gender Equality from Movies" formed the team "Equality at NDHU" and participated in the 2025 Taiwan Pride Parade, echoing the theme "Beyond Links - Crossing Labels, Understanding Differences."