Elation and anger in Taiwan as gays win the right to marry

AFTER fighting for three decades to legally marry his long-term partner, pioneering Taiwanese gay rights activist Chi Chia-wei said he was “leaping for joy like a bird” yesterday when Taiwan’s top court cleared the way for the island to become the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

“It’s been a long fight, and I’m in need of a good sleep,” Mr Chi, 59, told The Daily Telegraph. “I now believe it will be possible to change the law within two years. If the ruling party is aggressive, then even by this summer.”

The constitutional court ruled that Taiwan’s civil code, which stipulates an agreement to marry can only be made between a man and a woman, “violated” the constitution’s guarantees of freedom of marriage and equality.

It gave Taiwan’s parliament two years to change the law. If legislators fail to do so, same-sex couples will be able to register to marry regardless.

Mr Chi, who has championed gay rights since coming out as a teenager in 1975, brought the case to the court two years ago with the backing of Taipei’s municipal government. He had suffered several earlier legal defeats.

The ruling sets Taiwan apart from the rest of Asia, where gay men and women face increasing harassment. South Korea has been cracking down on gay armed service members, while in Indonesia two men were publicly caned on Tuesday for having consensual sex in a private home.

In Taiwan the issue has been divisive, with protests both for and against in recent months. There were angry scenes outside the court where antigay marriage protesters ripped up paper fliers and threw them at the police.

“I am very angry. They are creating diversity by polarising this country,” said Wendy Chou, 37. The mother of four said her biggest concern was that children would be taught about homosexual behaviour in school.

A mile away, outside Taiwan’s legislature, hundreds of gay rights supporters celebrated with rainbow flags. Jack Hsiao, manager of a gay social networking site, said he was in tears when the verdict was announced. “This is a big victory. We did not think it would happen so quickly,” he said. “We’ll be celebrating tonight. The bar will be full.”