Gay activists hail Taiwan same- sex marriage verdict
Taiwan’s top court on Wednesday ruled in favor of same- sex marriage, the first region in Asia to announce such a ruling, encouraging Chinese mainland activists and experts who believe “it’s only a matter of time” that it would soon be legalized across China.
The “Judicial Yuan” in Taiwan said on Wednesday that current marriage laws violated both marriage freedom and equal rights. The court also gave a two- year timeframe to legalize same- sex marriage.
The court added that if the changes are not made within two years, same- sex couples could get married based on the interpretation.
“Fourteen justices voted in favor of same- sex marriage, four more than the 10 needed, with only two judges dissenting,” AFP reported.
“The ruling proves that same- sex marriage is acceptable in Chinese culture, and it is likely that the Chinese mainland would legalize gay marriage within a decade,” said Li Yinhe, a sociologist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
LGBT activists in the Chinese mainland likewise expressed the same wish, including Sun Wenlin, the first in the Chinese mainland who filed – but lost – a lawsuit to register his same- sex marriage in 2016.
“I am thrilled to see the ruling, and I think it has encouraged efforts to legalize same- sex marriage in the Chinese mainland,” Sun told the Global Times.
Sun added that the process is urgent, concerning the increasing num- ber of gay couples in the mainland.
However, Li pointed out that in order to hasten the process, the legal mechanism for sexual minorities to express their opinion and protect their interest needs to be improved, such as having an LGBT political adviser and legislator.
Meanwhile, more efforts are needed to reduce discrimination against sexual minorities, she added.
Hundreds of gay marriage supporters who had gathered outside “parliament” in central Taipei cheered upon hearing the news, with some breaking down in tears, AFP reported.
Sixty- three countries have nondiscrimination laws that protect gays and lesbians, and 23 recognize samesex marriage, the New York Times reported on May 17.