Taipei: Taiwan’s parliament legalised same-sex marriage Friday in a landmark first for Asia as the government survived a last-minute attempt by conservatives to pass the watered-down legislation.
Lawmakers comfortably passed a bill allowing same-sex couples to form ‘exclusive permanent unions’ and another clause that would let them apply for a ‘marriage registration’ with government agencies.
The vote – which took place on the ‘International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia’ is a major victory for the island’s LGBT community and it places the island at the vanguard of Asia’s burgeoning gay rights movement.
Thousands of gay rights supporters gathered outside parliament despite heavy downpours, waving rainbow flags, flashing victory signs and breaking into cheers as the news filtered out.
Gay rights groups hailed the vote Friday, saying the ability to apply for a ‘marriage registration’ – known as ‘Clause Four’ put their community much closer to parity with heterosexual couples.
“The passage of Clause Four ensures that two persons of the same-sex can register their marriage and ensure that Taiwan becomes the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage and to successfully open a new page in history,” said the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights.
Two years ago Taiwan’s top court ruled that not allowing same-sex couples to marry violates the constitution with judges giving the government until May 24, 2019, to make the changes or see marriage equality enacted automatically.
Other key sections of the law were still being debated and voted Friday, including what, if any, provisions there will be for same-sex couples to adopt.
“In Taiwan a marriage will take effect when it’s registered, so allowing marriage registration is no doubt recognising the marriage itself,” Victoria Hsu, a gay rights lawyer, told this agency.
In the last decade, Taiwan has been one of the most progressive societies in Asia when it comes to gay rights, staging the continent’s biggest annual gay pride parade. But the island remains a staunchly conservative place, especially outside urban areas.
President Tsai Ing-wen hailed the vote as a ‘big step towards true equality’ that ‘made Taiwan a better country’. Tsai had previously spoken in favour of gay marriage but was later accused of dragging her feet after the court judgement, fearful of a voter backlash.
Australia and New Zealand are the only places in the wider Asia-Pacific region to have passed gay marriage laws. Taiwan is the first place in Asia to do so.
Agencies