BEIJING – Taiwan’s parliament legalised same-sex marriage on Friday in alandmark first for Asia as the government survived a last-minute attempt byconservatives to pass watered-down legislation.
Lawmakers comfortably passed a bill allowing same-sex couples to form“exclusive permanent unions” and another clause that would let them applyfor 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 LGBTcommunity and it places the island at the vanguard of Asia’s burgeoning gayrights movement.
Thousands of gay rights supporters gathered outside parliament despiteheavy downpours, waving rainbow flags, flashing victory signs and breakinginto cheers as the news filtered out.
In recent months conservatives had mobilised to rid the law of anyreference to marriage, instead putting forward rival bills that offeredsomething closer to limited same-sex unions. But those bills struggled toreceive enough votes.
Gay rights groups hailed the vote on Friday, saying the ability to applyfor a “marriage registration” — known as Clause Four — put their communitymuch closer to parity with heterosexual couples.
“The passage of Clause Four ensures that two persons of the same-sex canregister their marriage on May 24th and ensure that Taiwan becomes thefirst country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage and to successfullyopen a new page in history,” said the Taiwan Alliance to Promote CivilPartnership Rights.
– Court order –
Two years ago Taiwan’s top court ruled that not allowing same-sex couplesto marry violates the constitution with judges giving the government untilMay 24, 2019 to make the changes or see marriage equality enactedautomatically.
Other key sections of the law were still being debated and voted on Friday,including what, if any, provisions there will be for same-sex couples toadopt.
That resulted in more muted celebrations outside parliament as gay marriagesupporters continued to keep a close eye on voting.
Whatever the result, the law will not bring full equality with heterosexualcouples as even the most progressive version only offers biologicaladoptions.
But gay rights groups have said they were willing to accept compromises, aslong as the new law recognised the concept of marriage, adding they couldfight legal battles over surrogacy and adoption down the line.
“In Taiwan a marriage will take effect when it’s registered, so allowingmarriage registration is no doubt recognising the marriage itself,”Victoria Hsu, a gay rights lawyer, told AFP.
“For me the outcome today is not 100 percent perfect, but it’s still prettygood for the gay community as it provides legal definition,” added EliasTseng, a gay pastor who was among the crowds outside parliament.
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– Families divided –
In the last decade, Taiwan has been one of the most progressive societiesin Asia when it comes to gay rights, staging the continent’s biggest annualgay pride parade.
But the island remains a staunchly conservative place, especially outsideurban areas.
Conservative and religious groups were buoyed by a series of referendumwins in November, in which voters comprehensively rejected definingmarriage as anything other than a union between a man and a woman,illustrating the limited popular support.
President Tsai Ing-wen hailed the vote as a “big step towards trueequality” that “made Taiwan a better country.”
Tsai had previously spoken in favour of gay marriage but was later accusedof dragging her feet after the court judgement, fearful of a voter backlash.
Taiwan goes to the polls in January and the gay marriage issue could hamperTsai’s chances of re-election.
Opponents were incensed by the vote, saying the inclusion of the “marriageregistration” clause ignored the 70 percent of voters who had cast ballotsin the referendum wanting to keep marriage limited to a man and a woman.
Tseng Hsien-ying, from the Coalition for the Happiness of Our NextGeneration, told local media the vote “trampled on Taiwanese people’sexpectations that a marriage and a family is formed by a man and a woman, ahusband and a wife”.
Australia and New Zealand are the only places in the wider Asia-Pacificregion to have passed gay marriage laws.
Taiwan is the first place in Asia to do so.
Vietnam decriminalised gay marriage celebrations in 2015, but it stoppedshort of full legal recognition for same-sex unions.
“We hope this landmark vote will generate waves across Asia and offer amuch-needed boost in the struggle for equality for LGBTI people in theregion,” Annie Huang, from Amnesty International Taiwan, said in astatement. -APP/AFP
