Taiwan raises a green flag legalising same-sex marriage for the first time in Asia. Thousands of demonstrators and outside the parliament cheered and hugged in delightful. The rainbow flags waved high despite deep divisions over marriage equality.
The lawmakers of the majority Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) backed the bill, passing 66 to 27. However, the seen positive measure would complicate President Tsai Ing-wen’s bid to win a second term in the elections next year.
Outside the parliament in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, demonstrators braved the heavy rain and embracing tearfully as others hailed the vote with chants of ‘Asia’s First,” and “Way to go, Taiwan!”
The bill will be effective from 24th of May after Tsai signs it into law. The bill would consist of the legal protections for marriage as heterosexuals for same-sex couples.
Tsai told the reporters after the measure passed, “Today is a proud day for Taiwan. We demonstrate the value of kindness and inclusiveness from this land to the world.”
Tsai campaigned on a promise of marriage equality in the 2016 presidential elections. “Through legalisation, (we) ensure that everyone’s love is equal and everyone is treated equally,” Tsai added.
However, the law for same-sex marriage would only allow same-sex marriages between Taiwanese or with foreigners whose country allows same-sex marriage. The law permits adoption of children biologically related to at least one of the same sex pair.
The Taipei’s colourful gay pride parade is one of Asia’s largest parades. It is put on display every year the vibrancy of the island’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Ken Chan, a 32-year-old musician who was outside the parliament watching the vote broadcast live shared, “After 30 years of fighting, homosexuals can finally get married. Many of us were in tears.”
However, the conservative groups that oppose same-sex marriage said the legislation disrespected the people’s will. “The will of some seven million people in the referendum has been trampled,” one group, the Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation said in a statement. “The massive public will strike back in 2020.”
Australia passed laws allowing same-sex marriage in 2017, but such unions are not known by Hong Kong and China, which regards Taiwan as an errant prefecture to be returned to the fold by force, if necessary.
