Local gay-rights advocates defend bookstore owner - TW

[dArKeR]

Gay-rights advocates yesterday denounced prosecutors for bringing charges against a bookstore owner for selling erotic magazines.

With the matter proceeding to a second hearing today, they called on the court to respect the gay community's right to freedom of speech.

"Government censors approved director Tsai Ming-liang's (???) original cut of his latest film The Wayward Cloud, which contains explicit scenes of nudity," said Lai Jeng-jer (???), proprietor of Gin Gin's, a Taipei store specializing in gay and lesbian literature.

"The government recognized the film's artistry. Our magazines, which contain photos of naked men, however, are seen as obscene," Lai said yesterday during a press conference.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/03/15/2003246323