Read more at Reuters.

Around 100 members of Taipei’s LGBTQ+ community protested on Sunday after police raided a gay ​bar the day before and detained its customers, a highly unusual move given ‌that Taiwan prides itself on its liberal image and legal support for sexual minorities.

Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019 in a first for Asia and is normally a bastion of tolerance in a region where ​LGBTQ+ rights are often either suppressed or outlawed.

Taipei holds its main Pride event later this ​month, the largest in East Asia.

Taipei police raided the Commander D gay ⁠bar in the city’s Wanhua district on Saturday afternoon, taking 51 people in for questioning, ​and arresting the bar’s owner. Reuters could not reach him for comment.

Precinct spokesperson Chen Yu-cheng ​told Reuters police had acted on a search warrant for suspected “offences against public morality”.

Chen said the 51 people were suspected of violating a law that prohibits “wantonly exposing one’s naked body or presenting a lascivious posture ​in a public place or publicly accessible place”.

Protesters marched peacefully but noisily to the precinct ​police station on Sunday afternoon.

“They raided the place violently. It was very scary,” one of those detained, who ‌asked ⁠to be identified only by his family name Wen, told Reuters.

The Taipei city government referred Reuters to a separate police statement, which said police received a complaint alleging that the bar could be violating public decency laws.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an from the main opposition party, the ​Kuomintang, who faces an ​election next month, has ⁠previously attended Taipei Pride and expressed his support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The precinct chief, who did not give his name, came out to ​speak to protesters briefly.

“We respect the culture of a pluralistic society ​and will ⁠protect the rights of every citizen,” he said, as protesters shouted their disapproval at him.

Protester Kang Yang said he was angry the raid had happened, particularly during Pride month.

“I’m not cool with ⁠this,” he ​said. “This city used to claim that it was queer ​friendly.”

Taiwan was under martial law until 1987 and same-sex relations were a largely taboo issue at the time.