38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Legislative Corner

Taiwan Parliament Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill, Becoming First In Asia To Do So

By LawStreet News Network      17 May, 2019 12:00 AM      0 Comments

Lawmakers in Taiwan on May 17, 2019, have approved a landmark Bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

The benchmark decision makes the self-ruled island the first place in Asia to pass gay marriage legislation.

The Bill allows the same-sex couples to form “exclusive permanent unions” and would also let them apply for a “marriage registration” with government agencies.

The vote came following the decision of the country’s top court that not allowing same-sex couples to marry violates the constitution. Judges gave the government until May 24, 2019, to make the changes or see marriage equality enacted automatically.

With that deadline fast approaching, three bills were tabled for Friday’s vote. The most progressive was the government’s bill, the only one to use the word “marriage” and to offer limited adoption rights. It was backed begrudgingly by gay rights groups who saw it as the closest thing to full equality with heterosexual couples, despite its limitations.

The other two Bills presented by the opponents avoided the word marriage, offering something closer to same-sex unions with no adoption rights. Thus, both the Bills were rejected in the Parliament.

In a Facebook post, President Tsai Ing-wen said she recognised the issue had divided “families, generations and even inside religious groups”.

Facebook post by President Tsai Ing-wen
Facebook post by President Tsai Ing-wen

 “Today, we have a chance to make history and show the world that progressive values can take root in an east Asian society,” she said in a tweet.

The passage of the Bill has placed Taiwan apart from other parts of Asia where LGBTQ rights seem to be regressing.

 



Share this article:

User Avatar
About:


Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email