Taiwan legalizes same-sex marriage in first for Asia
- 5 years ago
TAIPEI — Love won in Taiwan as legislators approved same-sex marriage in a historic first for Asia.
BBC reports that in 2017, the island nation's Constitutional Court ruled that homosexuals had the right to legally marry.
The government was given two years to enact legislation, either by amending the current laws or passing new ones.
Taiwanese lawmakers debated three different draft bills on same-sex marriage. On Friday, just a week before the May 24 deadline, they passed the most progressive one by 66 to 27 votes.
CNN reports that the winning bill, backed by lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party and LGBTQ groups, was the only one to use the word "marriage."
It's the only one to offer some adoption rights to homosexual couples, allowing them to adopt a partner's biological child.
The bill was a definite win for marriage equality, sparking widespread celebration both in Taiwan and among LGBTQ folks in the region.
Just a day later, the country held its first joint wedding ceremony for gay and straight couples in Taipei, according to CNA.
But despite this very clear win for gender equality, the bill doesn't grant full marriage rights,so the fight is still on for adoption rights and transnational marriages."
BBC reports that in 2017, the island nation's Constitutional Court ruled that homosexuals had the right to legally marry.
The government was given two years to enact legislation, either by amending the current laws or passing new ones.
Taiwanese lawmakers debated three different draft bills on same-sex marriage. On Friday, just a week before the May 24 deadline, they passed the most progressive one by 66 to 27 votes.
CNN reports that the winning bill, backed by lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party and LGBTQ groups, was the only one to use the word "marriage."
It's the only one to offer some adoption rights to homosexual couples, allowing them to adopt a partner's biological child.
The bill was a definite win for marriage equality, sparking widespread celebration both in Taiwan and among LGBTQ folks in the region.
Just a day later, the country held its first joint wedding ceremony for gay and straight couples in Taipei, according to CNA.
But despite this very clear win for gender equality, the bill doesn't grant full marriage rights,so the fight is still on for adoption rights and transnational marriages."