Nick Kueh
Background
Nick Kueh holds a degree from Aichi University of Education in Japan and has extensive experience in language education, gender culture, and cross-cultural exchange across Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand. He has long been committed to advancing understanding of gender diversity in educational settings.
In 2021, he founded the first Rainbow Festival in Pingtung, Taiwan, featuring well-known gay couple YouTubers "Fufu no Michi" as hosts, using music and art to promote a message of inclusion. He subsequently taught at Mahasarakham University in Thailand, which he describes as a place that helped him rediscover his sense of purpose.
Mr Gay Japan 2026 Finalist
In 2026, Kueh became the first person of Taiwanese nationality to reach the finals of Mr Gay Japan 2026. Upon learning of his selection, he described his initial reaction as one of surprise and excitement, adding that the achievement carries meaning beyond his own journey — as a path-opener for others who may follow.
Kueh has described Mr Gay Japan not as a competition but as a platform for visibility, advocacy, and meaningful connection, values he said are consistent with what he has taught students throughout his career: to step outside their comfort zone and engage with the real world.
Three-Country Perspective on LGBTQ+ Issues
Drawing on his experience living and working across Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand, Kueh offered comparative observations on LGBTQ+ conditions in each country. Taiwan leads the region in LGBTQ+ rights as the first jurisdiction in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, with a strong civil society. Japan is gradually becoming more open, though LGBTQ+ individuals still navigate significant social expectations in daily life, while the local LGBTQ+ community is notably creative and resilient. Thailand is characterized by openness and a relaxed social atmosphere, with high LGBTQ+ visibility in media and everyday life, though deep community support networks remain relatively limited.
Educational Advocacy
On May 26, Kueh delivered a lecture at Yongkang Community College in Tainan under the theme "Love Has No Color — Respect Makes the World Better," addressing gender diversity and human rights equality. The college's director, Yeh Cheng-chung, expressed hope that the event would deepen students' practice of equality and respect on campus.
In Taiwan, Kueh has assisted students in organizing Pingtung's first Rainbow Festival and has hosted "Love Salons" on university campuses — open forums for students to discuss love, relationships, gender, and identity. He has said that what moves him most is not the events themselves, but the willingness of young people to genuinely listen to and accept perspectives different from their own.
Asian Editorial Department: Lu Junxiu