Taiwan Legalises Gay Marriage

[PeterRS]

Great news! Two years ago Taiwans Supreme Court gave the government two years to implement a gay marriage law. After two years talking and conservatives seeming to get the upper hand, this morning the legislators passed the most liberal of three possible bills. And it passed by a large majority - 66 votes to 27. Gay marriage will become legal from Friday next week.

So which Asian country will be next?

[vinapu]

14 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Great news! Two years ago Taiwans Supreme Court gave the government two years to implement a gay marriage law. After two years talking and conservatives seeming to get the upper hand, this morning the legislators passed the most liberal of three possible bills. And it passed by a large majority - 66 votes to 27. Gay marriage will become legal from Friday next week.

So which Asian country will be next?

not Brunei Darussalam , that's for sure, my vote goes to Vietnam

[spoon]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

not Brunei Darussalam , that's for sure, my vote goes to Vietnam

Why not thailand?

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, spoon said:

Why not thailand?

I don't know , just I have feeling that in matters of gay marriage Vietnam will be more progressive in letting people to shackle themselves

[rollingstone]

There are still limitations in the Taiwanese law. Dont assume you can just go to Taiwan and get married there.

Agree nevertheless a progress.

Vietnam being the next? Mmm ... my vote goes to Cambodia.

[PeterRS]

The Taiwan law is for Taiwanese citizens and for Taiwan citizens who have a partner from an overseas country which itself permits gay marriage. You cannot just go to Taiwan and get hitched!

[fedssocr]

It is great. It's unfortunate the legislature dragged it out until the end of the time limit set by the court.

I'm headed over for Taipei Pride again this year. Should be quite a party

[PeterRS]

5 hours ago, fedssocr said:

It's unfortunate the legislature dragged it out until the end of the time limit set by the court.

I do think thats unfair. Yes, the Court gave the government two years and yes, the government used up all but a few days of that time. But I think we must remember how historic this vote is. There was a lot of opposition to gay marriage in Taiwan. This was borne out in the referendum towards the end of last year when an official national referendum found that 72% of voters rejected gay marriage. Although only an advisory referendum, inevitably the result created far greater problems for the ruling party. The fact that it still pressed ahead and that the parliament as a whole elected to pass the most liberal of the three bills before it last week, the only one to mention 'marriage', has to be a huge credit to the government.

Enjoy the Pride Parade. Hope you can post lots of photos.

[fedssocr]

Fair enough. I didn't really understand why they had the referendum since the court had already ordered that they had to legalize it. That seemed to be just asking for trouble.