Taiwan becomes first in Asia to approve same-sex marriage
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s legislature voted Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, a first in Asia and a boost for LGBT rights activists who had championed the cause for two decades.
Lawmakers, pressured by LGBT groups as well as by church organizations opposed to the move, approved most of a government-sponsored bill that recognizes same-sex marriages and gives couples many of the tax, insurance and child custody benefits available to male-female married couples.
That makes Taiwan the first place in Asia with a comprehensive law both allowing and laying out the terms of same-sex marriage.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, a supporter of the law, tweeted: “On May 17th, 2019 in Taiwan, LoveWon. We took a big step toward true equality, and made Taiwan a better country.”
Thousands of people, including same-sex couples, demonstrated Friday morning in the rainy streets outside parliament before the vote. About 50 opponents sat under a tent outside parliament and gave speeches favoring marriage between only men and women.
Taiwan’s Constitutional Court in May 2017 said the constitution allows samesex marriages and gave parliament two years to adjust laws accordingly.
Religion, conservative values and political systems that discourage LGBT activism have slowed momentum toward same-sex marriage in many Asian countries from Japan through much of Southeast Asia, although Thailand is exploring the legalization of same-sex civil partnerships.