Taiwan could become the first Asian state to legalize same-sex and other "pluralistic" forms of marriage if a wide-ranging package of changes to the civil code are approved by the national legislature.
Taiwan is now discussing the gay marriage bill (多元成家), which according to the polls have 53 per cent of the public on this increasingly tolerant island nation. Meanwhile many publicly known figure is also expressing their support for same sex marriage in Taiwan such as Taiwan writer and television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永).
"I support the gay marriage as I support freedom of speech" said the 51-years old Tsai who is openly gay. During a program hosted by Li Ao in 2002, he has openly acknowledged his sexual orientation while pointing out that there was still much work to be done in Taiwan’s LGBT social movements.
"Won't same sex marriage bring problems? Yes, it will, as freedom of speech bring problems. But you cannot say I am against freedom of speech just because of some trouble it brings" said Tsai.
Taiwan is more tolerant to gays compared to other Asian neighbours. In Taiwan, sexual-orientation education is a part of the primary school curriculum and LGBT individuals enjoy legal protection from hiring discrimination and other forms of prejudice.
Despite this currently same sex marriage is not legal in Taiwan. Back in 25 October 2013, a petition-initiated bill to revise the Civil Code to allow for same-sex couples to be eligible for marriage was introduced by 23 lawmakers from the DPP in the Legislative Yuan. It was immediately referred to the Yuan's Judicial Committee for review and possible first reading.
New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to permit same-sex marriage this year and the Australian Capital Territory approved the measurethis year.
Taiwan is now discussing the gay marriage bill (多元成家), which according to the polls have 53 per cent of the public on this increasingly tolerant island nation. Meanwhile many publicly known figure is also expressing their support for same sex marriage in Taiwan such as Taiwan writer and television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永).
"I support the gay marriage as I support freedom of speech" said the 51-years old Tsai who is openly gay. During a program hosted by Li Ao in 2002, he has openly acknowledged his sexual orientation while pointing out that there was still much work to be done in Taiwan’s LGBT social movements.
"Won't same sex marriage bring problems? Yes, it will, as freedom of speech bring problems. But you cannot say I am against freedom of speech just because of some trouble it brings" said Tsai.
Taiwan is more tolerant to gays compared to other Asian neighbours. In Taiwan, sexual-orientation education is a part of the primary school curriculum and LGBT individuals enjoy legal protection from hiring discrimination and other forms of prejudice.
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| Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) with his partner |
New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to permit same-sex marriage this year and the Australian Capital Territory approved the measurethis year.
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