During her two terms in office, Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party strongly advocated for social issues, particularly LGBTQ rights, leading to Taiwan becoming the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019.
Nymphia Wind will conclude her presidency on Monday, marking the end of her tenure as Taiwan’s first female president. In a speech at the presidential office on Wednesday, Wind highlighted two significant achievements under Tsai’s leadership.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tsai Ing-wen wrote, “Delighted to see fellow queens perform at the Presidential Office today. Nymphia, as the S16 winner of RuPaulsDragRace, is now a queen for the world. We’re all looking forward to you lighting up the stage with #Taiwanese pride at our pavilion at the Paris Olympics.”
“Thank you so much for your eight years of dedication, for becoming Taiwan’s mother,” the Taiwanese-American drag queen said.
Wind performed three songs in the main entrance of the presidential office, starting with a piece by Taiwanese singer Huang Fei, followed by Lady Gaga‘s “Marry the Night” and for the final song, “Womxnly” by pop star Jolin Tsai, which features LGBTQ-focused lyrics such as “Never let anyone change who you are.”
Wind was accompanied by five other Taiwanese drag queens in a dance and lip-sync performance. The president said the performance “shows resistance to social discrimination, resistance to prejudice”.
“I want to thank all the drag queens for speaking up for themselves, breaking the barriers and showing their beauty of fearlessness,” Tsai said.
Wind’s victory last month caused a sensation on Taiwanese social media when she said, “Taiwan, this is for you!”
Tsai congratulated her on the social media platform X, commending her “for being so accomplished in the difficult art form of drag, and for being the first Taiwanese to take the stage and win” “RuPaul’s Drag Race”.
“Taiwan thanks to you for living fearlessly,” she said in a tweet.
(with inputs from agencies)