Taipei – Taiwan on Friday launched its first official guide book for homosexuals, hoping to portray Taiwan as a gay-friendly place.

The booklet, titled ‘The Queer Guide’, was printed by the Taipei County Government to promote tourism in the Greater Taipei area. The 48-page booklet uses 7 pages to introduce gay spots, but 41 pages to offer general tourism information and warnings against AIDS.

Lin Kuo-ning, from the Taipei County Government’s health department, said the idea for printing the Queer Guide came from the country government’s concern about the health of homosexuals.

“Two years ago we began to make anonymous HIV tests to gay men at gay spots in Taipei. We wanted to print a sheet with information about AIDS, but thought it would be better if we publish a Queer Guide,” he said by phone.

“We have printed 2,000 copies of Queer Guide to distribute at gay saunas and shops,” he said.

The Queer Guide is the first travel guide for homosexuals issued by Taiwan authorities. There is already a Taiwan Gay Guide which is published by a gay group.

While many homosexuals welcomed the Queer Guide, some complained it is not gay-oriented and should not mention AIDS.

“This pamphlet talks mainly about travel for the general public, not about gays. Gay Guides in foreign countries serve only gays. They tell you where to go and what to see,” Lai Cheng-cheh, owner of Gin Gin Bookstore, a gay bookstore in Taipei, said.

“And the pamphlet starts by talking about prevention of AIDS. What does AIDS have to do with homosexuals? I don’t understand,” he said.

Lin, from the Taipei County Government, said the county government is seeking feedback from homosexuals to revise the pamphlet.

“In the second edition, the section about gay topics will be larger, and we will print photos of gay models to introduce travel destinations for homosexuals,” he said.

Taipei city has a history of supporting GLBT rights, and partly finances some gay pride events.