TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s parliament on Friday discussed measures to legalize same-sex marriage ahead of a landmark vote that could make the self-ruled island the first in Asia to adopt such legislation, despite deep divisions over marriage equality.
In Taipei, the capital, thousands of supporters of same-sex marriage gathered outside parliament, which was set to vote on a series of bills that could offer same-sex couples similar legal protections for marriage as heterosexuals.
“Today, we have a chance to make history and show the world that progressive values can take root in an East Asian society,” President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on Twitter.
“Today, we can show the world that #LoveWins,” added Tsai, who campaigned on a promise of marriage equality in 2016 polls.
The vote will follow a years-long debate over marriage equality. In 2017, the democratic island’s constitutional court declared same-sex couples had the right to legally marry, and set a deadline of May 24 for legalization.
Australia passed laws allowing same-sex marriage in 2017, sparking rainbow celebrations, but Hong Kong and neighboring China, which regards the island as a wayward province to be brought back into the fold, do not recognize such unions.
Reporting by Yimou Lee, I-Hwa Cheng and Taipei newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and James Pomfret
Source : Denver Post
