Rightwing turn in Taiwan

Taipei – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activists in Taiwan fear their newly won right to marriage equality is under threat, while the president is battling for her political future after a vote that saw a swing towards conservatism.

Rival referendums on samesex unions saw “pro-family” groups defeat pro-gay campaigners in what Amnesty International called a “bitter blow and a step backwards for human rights in Taiwan”.

The referendums ran alongside local elections in which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party suffered a massive loss in city and county seats, prompting President Tsai Ing-wen to resign as party leader. The Beijing-friendly main opposition, Kuomintang, made gains in the face of China’s increasing pressure on the island.

Tsai promoted Taiwan as a beacon of democracy in the region since she took office. Rights activists worldwide also lauded Taiwan after its top court voted to legalise gay marriage last year, the first in Asia to do so. But Saturday’s vote showed mainstream sentiment was uncomfortable with such reforms.

“Taiwan is a conservative society and not quite ready for the progressive label it’s been given in some quarters,” said Jonathan Sullivan, director of China programmes at Nottingham University. –