Taiwan to allow same-sex marriage

TAIWAN’S constitutional court declared yesterday that same-sex couples have the right to legally marry – the first such ruling in Asia, sparking celebration by activists who have been campaigning for the right for years.

The court, known as the Judicial Yuan, said marriage laws were in violation of both the people’s freedom of marriage and the people’s right to equality, and it gave two years for legal amendments to allow same-sex marriage.

“If relevant laws are not amended or enacted within the said two years, two persons of the same sex who intend to create the said permanent union shall be allowed to have their marriage registration effectuated,” the court said.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights activists had harboured high hopes that their years of campaigning for same-sex marriage would win the court’s backing.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party that swept national elections in the self-ruled island last year supported the change.

Hundreds of supporters of same-sex marriage gathered in the street next to the island’s parliament to celebrate the decision.

“This ruling has made me very happy,” veteran gay rights activist Chi Chia-wei, who had petitioned the court to take up the issue, said.

The ruling clearing the way for same-sex marriage is the first in Asia, where socially conservative attitudes largely hold sway.

Taiwan has a reputation as a beacon of liberalism in the region.

A lawyer said the ruling made it clear that same-sex couples had the same marriage rights as opposite-sex couples.