Taiwan gay pride parade pushes key referendum vote
TAIPEI (AFP) — Thousands gathered for Taipei’s Gay Pride parade yesterday – the biggest in Asia — ahead of a landmark vote next month on lesbian-gaybisexual-transgender (LGBT) rights on the island nation.
Taiwan’s top court in May 2017 legalized gay marriage, the first place in Asia to do so, and ruled that its decision must be implemented within two years.
There has been little progress, however, toward bringing in the mandatory change since then, with President Tsai Ing-wen saying society is still divided.
Anti-gay rights campaigners have mounted a referendum against amending the civil code to allow same-sex couples to marry, which will take place alongside local elections in November.
They said marriage should be defined as “a bond between one man and one woman.”
In response, pro-LGBT campaigners have put forward their own referendum proposing that the code should be amended, which will also go to the vote next month.
They have also put forward a referendum calling for samesex education in schools, a counterpoint to another antigay referendum opposing it.
The theme of this year’s march was to support the progay rights referendums.
Waving rainbow banners, placards and fans printed with slogans, including “love is equal” and “vote for a happy future,” participants gathered at the square outside the presi- dential office.
“I support the referendums because marriage equality is a basic human right that nobody should be deprived of and gender equality education at school is crucial to prevent discrimination and bullying,” said Chen Yu-fang, a 39-yearold housewife who brought her two children to the rally.
Last year’s court decision is binding on the government, but did not give specific guidance on how same-sex relationships should be legalized.