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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Helen Davidson and Chi Hui Lin in Taipei

How a rabbit god became an icon for Taiwan’s gay community

Lu Wei-ming prays in front of an offering
Lu Wei-ming, who founded the Taoist temple in 2006, says it’s a space for all people to pray for love and friendship. Photograph: Reuters/Alamy

During a quiet mid-week afternoon on the eighth floor of an office building, A-wei is meditatively separating flower petals to make an offering to Tu’er Shen the rabbit god, a spiritual guardian of LGBTQI people.

The small Taoist temple where 24-year-old A-wei sits is a humble room with views across New Taipei city, made cosy by the smell of incense and the mews of two noisy cats.

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