Taiwan passes equality bill to allow same-sex marriages

THERE were tears of joy among Taiwan’s LGBT community yesterday after same-sex marriage was legalised in a historic first for Asia.

The vote by Taiwan’s parliament came two years after its constitutional court ruled that not allowing same-sex couples to marry was a violation of the constitution.

The judges told parliament to take action to enforce their judgment, and instructed MPS to amend or enact new laws before May 24 2019.

The bill will now go into effect next week and gay couples are already lining up to wed.

The landmark decision cements Taiwan’s reputation as a beacon of liberalism in a region where the LGBT community faces increasing persecution, and will give a long-awaited boost to Asia’s burgeoning gay rights movement.

Thousands of LGBT activists and gay rights supporters braved heavy rain outside the parliament during the vote, waved rainbow flags and cheered as the decision was announced.

The community had expressed increasing disillusionment with ruling politicians as leaders delayed passing legislation before important local elections last November.

While democratic Taiwan has been one of the most progressive societies in Asia in terms of respecting gay rights – it hosts the region’s biggest annual gay pride parade – much of the population remains deeply traditionalist.

While the new legislation does not offer full equality with heterosexual couples, LGBT groups accepted the compromise of being granted the right to a “marriage registration” while vowing to fight in future for equal access to surrogacy and adoption.

The new legislation only allows for biological adoption, and marriages with foreign residents will not be recognised.

Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s president, tweeted an image of a rainbow flag following the vote, adding: “On May 17 in Taiwan, love won.

“We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country.”